CEDAR CITY, Utah, Jan. 6 ? Three Southern Utah University football players have earned honorable mention All-America recognition from The SportsNetwork. Defensive tackle Austin Curtis, wide receiver Tysson Poots and punter Trevor Ward all earned a spot on the Football Championship Subdivision squad.
    “It's great to have our players get this kind of recognition,” SUU Coach Ed Lamb said. “These are three players who were important parts of our team this year and, with a junior and sophomore on the list, it bodes well for the future as well.”
    Curtis, a senior from Layton, Utah (Layton HS) was among the nation's leaders in tackles-for-loss with a team- and Great West Conference high 13.5 this past season. Curtis was also 10th in the GWC sacks with five and 11th in total tackles with 58, the SUU team-high for defensive linemen. Curtis was also second on the SUU squad in quarterback hurries with five.
    “Austin was a force in the middle for us,” Lamb pointed out. “He was known around the league but it's nice to see him get this kind of national recognition too.”
    Poots, a sophomore from Henderson, Nev. (Coronado HS), ranked third in the nation in receptions per game (7.5) and in receiving yards per game (112.4). He led the GWC in receptions per game and was second in receiving yards per game and in scoring at 7.6 points per game, which ranked 24th nationally. Poots caught 83 passes for 1,236 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2008 to set SUU school records for receptions, receiving yards and TDs in a season.
    “Tysson is another player who is known around our league,” Lamb said. “He had an outstanding year for us and we're excited that he'll be back as a junior next year.”
    Ward, a junior from Ogden, Utah (Bonneville HS) led the GWC in punting with an average of 42.8 yards per punt, the eighth-best average in the country, while his net average of 35.9 yards was sixth-best in the nation. Ward set an SUU record with his 91-yard punt in the season-opener at Air Force and his yards per-punt average is second-best in Southern Utah history.
    “Trevor was a weapon for us all year, controlling the field with just a swing of his leg,” Lamb noted. “He also developed the ability to pull off the fake punt and had a great all-around season.”
    All three players were first-team all-Summit League selections as well as All-Americans. Selection to the team was determined by balloting among the nation's FCS sports information directors.

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