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 --