CEDAR CITY, Utah – After a 2024 season in which Southern Utah's secondary endured its share of growing pains, the Thunderbirds enter 2025 determined to turn coverage into a strength. With a revamped cornerback group that mixes proven transfers, experienced returners, and athletic newcomers, Southern Utah has added depth and playmaking ability to raise the standard on the back end of the defense.
Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald Said
"Our corners know we've got to be better than we were a year ago, and I like the way they've embraced that challenge. We've added size, speed, and experience to the room, and now it's about competing every day and making plays when the ball's in the air."
Returning to the Field
Returning to the roster is Mikey Allen, who saw action in nine games last season and found his way into the starting rotation during the back half of the season. Allen made his presence felt late in the year with a pair of key pass breakups, and his steady development puts him in a position to earn more snaps in the defensive rotation.
Adding Experience and Production
Leading the way is Jakobi Spence, a transfer from Sterling College who made an immediate impact last season with 40 tackles and six interceptions. A versatile athlete out of Saguaro High School, Spence has shown the ability to both tackle in space and create turnovers, giving the T-Birds a proven ballhawk in the secondary.
Immediate Impact Transfers
The Thunderbirds also added Christian Sampson, a standout from Citrus College who allowed just one catch in seven games while racking up 13 pass breakups and leading his team in interceptions. His physicality and ability to disrupt passing lanes will give SUU another weapon on the perimeter.
Tim Christian, a redshirt junior from Akron, Ohio, brings veteran experience from his time at Sacramento State. Christian has played in multiple systems and brings a physical style of play with the ability to break up passes, highlighted by six PBUs and an interception during his career.
Rising Talent
Sean Mays, at 6-foot-3, adds rare length to the corner position. The Fort Worth native arrives from Santa Barbara City College, where he notched 38 tackles and seven pass breakups. His size and range make him an intriguing matchup option against taller receivers.
Freshman to Watch
Adding to the group is Sean Brooks, a dynamic athlete from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles. A First Team All-Angeles League selection and decorated track sprinter, Brooks brings speed and raw athleticism to the unit as he transitions to the college game.
Freshman Jagger Hammer comes to Cedar City following in the footsteps of his father, Matt, who played both wide receiver and defensive back for the T-Birds in the early 2000s and went on to become an offensive coordinator for Weber State, coaching for more than 16 years.
Outlook
With a blend of proven playmakers like Spence and Sampson, experienced depth in Christian and Allen, and high-upside newcomers in Mays and Brooks, the Thunderbirds' cornerback room is as versatile and competitive as any position group on the roster. Whether it's creating turnovers, breaking up passes, or holding their own in one-on-one coverage, this group is built to rise to the challenge against the pass-heavy offenses they'll face in the United Athletic Conference.
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