CEDAR CITY, Utah, Dec. 19 - Southern Utah University's Austin Minefee has earned All-America honors from the Sports Network, it was announced today.

Minefee, a senior running back from Cedar City, Utah (Canyon View HS) was named to the third team as a kick return specialist.

Minefee, a two-time first-team all-Great West Conference selection at running back and this year's GWC special teams Player of the Year, finished the regular season ranked seventh in the nation in both kickoff return yards and all-purpose yards.

He returned 25 kickoffs for 731 yards and two touchdowns and finished the season with a 29.2 yards-per-return average. He also finished the season with 1,751 all-purpose yards. His 731 kickoff return yards represent the fifth-highest total in SUU history, while his 29.2 yards-per-return average is also fifth at SUU.

Minefee led the Thunderbirds in rushing and scoring this past season. He finished the 2011 campaign with 625 rushing yards on 154 carries, and scored 13 total touchdowns, including nine via the rush, two via the pass and two on returns. He was also third on the team in receiving, with 46 receptions for 395 yards.

Minefee is SUU's second Sports Network special teams All-American in the past three years and his selection gives the school All-Americans three straight seasons. Punter Trevor Ward earned second-team honors in 2009 and wide receiver Tysson Poots was a first-team selection last year.

NOTE: Minefee's father, Kelvin, set the SUU record for kickoff return average in 1988, when  he returned 17 kicks 512 yards, an average of 30.1 ypr.

-- SUU --