CEDAR CITY, Utah — Southern Utah football alum Lyle Santos is taking the next step in his professional career after being selected in the 2026 UFL Draft by the Orlando Storm, marking another milestone for one of the most decorated offensive linemen in Thunderbirds football history.
Lyle Santos Said
"It means everything to get another opportunity to do what I love. I know I still have a lot to prove, and I'm excited to compete and show that I belong in this league. I've been incredibly blessed with support from my family, Sam and her family, and everyone at SUU, the coaches and my teammates, and I wouldn't be here without them. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'm ready to go give it everything I have."
A consistent leader during his time in Cedar City, Santos carved out a legacy defined not only by elite performance in the trenches but by unwavering loyalty to the program. In an era where the transfer portal has reshaped college football rosters year after year, Santos remained true to Southern Utah, playing his entire collegiate career as a Thunderbird.
That commitment paid off.
Santos finished his SUU career with 47 starts and an astounding 3,151 total snaps on the offensive line, anchoring units that consistently ranked among the best in the FCS. Known for his technical polish and physicality, Santos allowed just one sack across 1,767 career pass-blocking snaps.
His final season in 2024 was a fitting capstone. As a redshirt senior, Santos was voted a team captain and started all 12 games, earning First Team All-UAC honors along with Phil Steele First Team All-UAC recognition. He posted an 85.1 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 40th among all guards across both FBS and FCS levels.
Perhaps most notably, Santos anchored an offensive line that paved the way for a historic rushing season. The Thunderbirds blocked for FCS leading rusher Targhee Lambson, who shattered the program's single-season rushing record with 1,922 yards, a feat built on dominance up front. Santos' excellence didn't begin in his final year. It was the standard throughout his career.
As a redshirt junior in 2023, Santos again earned preseason All-UAC honors and was voted a team captain. That season, the Thunderbird offensive line allowed just nine sacks, the fewest in the conference and tied for seventh nationally among FCS teams, marking the program's best full-season sack total since 2015. Santos was named to Phil Steele's Third Team All-UAC and FCS Football Central's Second Team All-UAC following the season.
In 2022, his versatility was tested as he started games at both right guard and center, earning WAC First Team All-Conference honors along with accolades from Phil Steele and Bluebloods. From his first season seeing the field in Spring 2021, when he started five games, to starting every game at right guard as a redshirt freshman that fall, Santos quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Thunderbird offense.
Following his graduation, Santos remained active in pursuit of the next level, earning an invitation to work out for his hometown Las Vegas Raiders and other NFL teams, further validating the professional potential scouts had long seen in his game.
Now, with his name called in the UFL Draft, Santos adds another chapter to an already impressive football journey. For Southern Utah, his selection serves as a powerful example of what sustained commitment, leadership, and development can produce.
From Cedar City to Orlando, Lyle Santos continues to represent the Thunderbirds with the same grit and pride that defined his career in the T-Birds uniform.
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