He also spent time at Michigan State and Wayne State. The Southern Utah University football team is a team in transition. Joseph McWilliams. The now-redshirt junior threw for 2,416 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 13 interceptions. Outside of my wife and kids, my three beautiful daughters I dont think about anything else but football, he said. SUU's newest signing class includes 12 signees from the state of Utah, four from California, three from Maryland, two from Virginia and one from Washington and Pennsylvania. The move comes as SUU is just 1-10 this season, including 0-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Jenkins transferred to Southern Utah and will help bolster the Thunderbirds receiving corps in 2022. The 2021 running back position was a revolving door for Southern Utah. He has a chance to be as good as he wants to be. Theyre going to be very, very good in four or five years.. Tapasa and his wife, Joanna, reside in St. George and have five daughters. More:Southern Utah University tabs DeLane Fitzgerald as next head football coach, We have some pieces, continued Fitzgerald. More:Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach after six seasons. They also have three young grandsons. Were going to show up on time. Jones was a 2x All-Big Sky First Team Selection and was an Associated Press FCS First Team All-American. New head coach DeLane Fitzgerald addresses his team following Wednesday's practice. Gardner, a redshirt freshman, was Fitzgeralds biggest surprise along the offensive line. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? We still have a long way to go but were better. Collin Gardner has played really well at the center and tackle position, Fitzgerald said. On the other side of the defensive line, Strand was a 2x First Team Mountain East selection and Mountain East Defensive Player of the Year under Fitzgerald at Frostburg State. Ed Lamb - Wikipedia Peterson played three years of college football, starting as a quarterback for the University of New Mexico in 2007. Robison, listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, flashed his ability to extend plays and make good reads in the RPO game. [10], The Thunderbirds won their first Big Sky championship in 2015, defeating Northern Arizona 4941 in the regular season finale at Cedar City. Robison was graded as a three-star quarterback in the 2020 cycle, and the 73rd best dual-threat quarterback in the class. "Coach Warren has been a cherished member of this institution and community for the last 14 years," Corumsaid. His impact on Frostburg State was unprecedented. The Thunderbirds are one of five new teams being added to the WAC, which will have 13 teams after the expansion. Claude Edward Lamb III [1] (born March 4, 1974) is an American college football coach and former player. BYU wide receiver Kody Epps is reportedly heading to the transfer portal, No. Newly hired Southern Utah University football coach DeLane Fitzgerald is flanked by SUU Athletic Director Debbie Corum, SUU Interim President Mindy Benson and SUU cheerleaders, Cedar. From there, he took over at Frostburg State, where he guided the Bobcats from 18 wins during the eight years before his arrival to 62 over the next eight, including four seasons with 10 or more wins. The Thunderbirds have appeared in the FCS playoffs three times with an overall record of 03. He was named First Team All-State by the Deseret News as well as First Team All-Region. In 2021, Justin Miller lined up under center for SUU. SUU announces first signing class under coach DeLane Fitzgerald - Yahoo! Kelling was named Football Gazette's Division II National Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 during his playing days. Top 5 stories on St. George News for Labor Day weekend. Fitzgerald feels he has a strong offensive line, with top talent in redshirt sophomore Lyle Santos at right guard and Frostburg State transfer Brandon Dillard at right tackle. Our right guard and right tackle can play with the best of em, Fitzgerald said. Fitzgeralds staff at Frostburg consistently led D-II in tackles for loss and sacks, which should only drive up Bemiys potential. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Southern Utah University coaches and sports staff members surround new SUU athletic director Doug Knuth after news conference announcing his hiring, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards . 2023 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, "Branding & Creative - Marketing Communication", "NCAA Sports Sponsorship: Southern Utah University", "DeLane Fitzgerald Named Head Football Coach at Southern Utah", "Southern Utah now part of American West", "Great West football conference announces formation", "SUU football: T-Birds earn program's first Big Sky championship", "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football", "ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule", "ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands as the United Athletic Conference", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Utah_Thunderbirds_football&oldid=1150979373, American football teams established in 1963, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 05:17. Always putting the program ahead of his own desires, he has made a decision that it is time to step aside and make room for another coach to lead the team, and I support him in this decision. Bolingbroke and Schenks are slated to come back in the fall but both will miss the Spring Game due to injuries. Tosh Wright and Jordan Jefferson each could add to the revamped backfield. His first head coaching job was at Southern Virginia from 2009-13, after which he became the head coach of Frostburg State. The coaches from last year's staff staying in Cedar City include offensive line coach Aaron Fernandez, wide receivers coach Brady Measom, linebackers coach Solomona Tapasa and defensive line coach Ryan Hunt. A big part of spring ball is the learning and getting a feel for what we want. He was also an Academic All-Region honoree. Southern Utah University football helmet, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 14, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News . Football All rights reserved. Blair Peterson- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. He has elevated the football program in many ways and has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. SUU is hopeful Fitzgerald can produce similar results in Cedar City. The end of the 2021 season marked the conclusion of Warren's sixth year as head coach of the Thunderbirds, and 14th year with the program overall. Hatitio will look to help bolster the SUU offensive line after a successful high school career at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper. The Thunderbirds new coach is confident that he and his staff can make thenecessary changes to turn things around. [2] Lamb served as the head football coach at Southern Utah University (SUU) from 2007 to 2015. Tapasa will start his seventh season at SUU in 2022. Kelling started his coaching career at his alma mater, Minnesota State Mankato, from 1992-95, and spent the following two seasons at Augustana College in South Dakota. Southern Utah University Football Scholarships Guide - NCSASports.org 2 UCLA, High school boys soccer: 4A/3A/2A state tournament scores and schedules, Utah States Logan Bonner has 2 tryout chances to earn himself an NFL contract. I know you guys are coming off a 1-10 season. Redshirt sophomore Aubrey Nellems notched 48 tackles as well and looks to see an increased role as the most experienced returning linebacker. The team will also be led by new Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald who made the jump to the FCS level from NCAA Division II powerhouse Frostburg State University. The signees were: Elijah Burns / RB / 5-11 / 205 / William & Mary, Brandon Dillard / OL / 6-4 / 260 / Frostburg State, Micah Pettit / K / 6-1 / 175 / Lafayette College, Mitchell Price / DB / 6-0 / 195 / Brigham Young, Jackson Rigby / TE / 6-4 / 230 / Utah State, Grady Robison / QB / 6-1 / 195 / Western Kentucky, Zach Strand / DL / 5-10 / 250 / Frostburg State. Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. The Sammamish, Washington native led Eastlake High School to a 9-2 record as a senior under center. As per usual, the school said a nationwide search for Warrens replacement will begin immediately. Demario Warren out as Southern Utah head football coach - The Spectrum Next season will bring a lot of change for SUU football as they move from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. The roster itself is seeing a lot of fluctuation as well with old faces entering the transfer portal and a lot of new players coming in. SUU football rebuilding on the fly under new coaching staff Warren leaves SUU with an overall record of 21-42, and led the T-Birds to a Big Sky Conference championshipin2017 during his tenure as head coach. In his three years with the Cougars, Price only tallied five total tackles, but the Pleasant Grove native will be a key fixture with plenty of young faces in the Thunderbird secondary. SUU is a caring campus community where students come to explore their interests and prepare for meaningful careers and life experiences . Southern Utah head coach Demario Warren shouts to his team during game against Utah Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City. Freshman class shines, Miller rises to occasion in Southern Utah aaronmicha700@gmail.com. Lesa was named Second Team All-State two times and First Team All-Region three times after being a four-year starter for the Bulldogs. Not just out at practice and in the weight room, but with everything. Aleka Leausa earned All-Region recognition as a sophomore, junior and senior. Doug Knuth named SUU's new athletic director - Cedar City News Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. Always putting the program ahead of his own desires, he has made a decision that it is time to step aside and make room for another coach to lead the team, and I support him in this decision..