CEDAR CITY, Utah, Nov. 22 - Three Southern Utah football players earned Great West Conference Player of the Year awards in voting among the conference's media, it was announced today.

Brad Sorensen was named Offensive Player of the Year, Austin Minefee was Special Teams Player of the Year and Brady Measom was named Rookie of the Year.

In all, SUU placed 11 players on the all-conference first team and four more on the second team. Three T-Birds earned honorable mention.

Sorensen, a junior quarterback from Grand Terrace, Calif., led the conference in total offense, passing yards per game, completion percentage and completions and passing touchdowns. He completed 288-of-425 passes (67.8 percent) for 3,143 yards and 17 touchdowns and finished with 3,094 total yards. Sorensen gives SUU back-to-back offensive player of the year awards, following WR Tysson Poots, who earned the honor last year.

Minefee, a senior running back from Cedar City, Utah, finished the season ranked seventh in the nation and atop the GWC charts in kickoff return average. He returned 25 kickoffs a total of 731 yards, including two for touchdowns, a 99-yarder and an 82-yard return. He also led the GWC in all-purpose yards with 1,751, as he finished the season with 625 rushing and 395 receiving yards, ranking among the league's top five in both categories. He also finished the season fifth in the GWC in overall scoring and third in touchdowns scored. He was named the GWC special teams player of the week twice and the offensive player of the week twice and also received two national player of the week awards. Minefee is SUU's third special teams player of the year, joining WR/return specialist Nick Miller, who received the award in 2008, and punter Trevor Ward, who was named in 2009.

Measom, a wide receiver from South Jordan, Utah, finished the season ranked seventh in the nation punt return average , at 12.3 yards per return. He also led the Thunderbirds in receptions with 48 for 547 yards. His receptions were second overall in the league while his yards per game (49.7) were sixth and second on the team. Measom is SUU's second rookie of the year; he joins WR Braden Godfrey, who earned the award in 2004.

Sorensen and Minefee were joined on the coaches' first offense by senior tight end Abbel Aiono, who had 28 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns, junior guard Zach Brackus and sophomore center Gavin Farr.

SUU players on the first defense were senior defensive end Tyler Osborne, junior defensive tackle Cody Larsen, senior linebackers Blake Fenn and junior LB Chad Hansen, and senior defensive backs Dion Turner and Erron Vonner.

Osborne (Ogden, Utah), finished the season second in the conference in sacks, tackles for loss and fumbles forced, was tied for second in fumbles recovered and was 15th in tackles, which led all defensive linemen. He finished the season with 60 tackles (33 solo), 17 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five fumbles forced and three fumbles recovered. Osborne was namaed defensive player of the year by the coaches. Larsen (Draper, Utah) was fourth in the conference with seven sacks; he finished the season with 24 tackles, (12 solo), seven TFLs, 1 interception, a fumble recovery, fumble forced and he also blocked a kick.

Fenn (Roosevelt, Utah) ranked third in the GWC with 86 tackles (45 solo), including 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack, with an interception return for a touchdown and a pass broken up. Hansen (Murietta, Calif.) led the conference with104 tackles (53 solo), with seven TFLs, three sacks, an interception, three passe sbroken up, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. 

Turner,  a cornerback from Oakland, Calif., was 10th in the conference with 69 tackles (48 solo), including four TFLS. He also intercepted a pass which her returned for a touchdown and broke up a team-high four passes. Vonner, a strong safety from Toledo, Ohio who prepped in southern California, had two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns, to go along with 58 tackles (39 solo) and a forced fumble.

Earning second-team recognition were Measom, offensive tackle Brandon Beddes (American Fork, Utah), fullback Daryl Brown (Magna, Utah) and linebacker Herman Sword.

Senior offensive lineman Trevor Schauerhamer, freshman punter Tate Lewis and Measom (as a punt returner) all earned honorable mention honors as well.

-- SUU --