CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah sophomore Ran Sawyer has been named the Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in Saturday's 46-33 win at Utah Tech.
"Ran can change the game every time he touches the football, and that return was a huge play," Fitzgerald said. "To have him make that play in his hometown, in that moment, was pretty special. He's worked hard to become a complete player for us, and he continues to show how valuable he can be in the return game, in the backfield and as a receiver."
Sawyer returned two kickoffs for 138 yards, including a 99-yard touchdown that put the Thunderbirds in front for good. Utah Tech had taken a 17-15 lead with 13:18 left in the second quarter. Sawyer fielded the ensuing kickoff at the SUU 1 and went the distance, putting SUU back on top 22-17 just 17 seconds later. The T-Birds did not trail again.
The return came at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, Sawyer's hometown, where he starred at Dixie High School.
Sawyer also had a 39-yard return to the SUU 39 in the first quarter. He started at running back and carried five times for nine yards. One of those carries was a 7-yard run on 2nd and 2 that moved the chains on the drive capped by Mark Bails Jr.'s 12-yard touchdown catch.
It was the second kickoff return touchdown of Sawyer's career. He scored his first on a 95-yard return against Northern Arizona on Sept. 13, 2025, at Eccles Coliseum. That was SUU's first kickoff return touchdown since 2018, and it earned him United Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week honors.
Through four games this season, Sawyer leads the Thunderbirds with 238 kickoff return yards on seven returns. That averages 34.0 yards per return. Out of the backfield, he has nine carries for 20 yards and five receptions for 29 yards, giving him 287 all-purpose yards on the year.
For his career, Sawyer has 715 kickoff return yards on 26 returns, with two touchdowns. He led SUU with 477 kickoff return yards on 19 returns as a freshman in 2025.
Next Up
The Thunderbirds have a bye this week before hosting UC Davis on October 17. The game against the Aggies will kick off at 6:00 p.m. MT, with live stream available on ESPN+ and live stats available on the schedule link at suutbirds.com.
The Thunderbirds Coaches Show
Don't forget to check out the Thunderbirds Coaches Show live at Cafe Sabor on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. or watch it every Wednesday at noon MT on your favorite platform. You can watch it on YouTube by clicking here or on WatchSports.com. If you prefer audio, find it on your favorite podcast sites like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Tickets
Season tickets and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com
Follow Us
For all the latest on Southern Utah football, follow @SUUFB_ on Twitter, @SUUFB on Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Football Facebook page.
Donate
Consider donating today to support Thunderbirds athletics. To learn more about how you can help, click here.
