With a focus on now and an eye to the future, Southern Utah University football coach Wes Meier inked 27 high school and junior college transfers as part of his 2007 class.
"We've signed a great group, probably one of the most talented we have ever signed," he said. "We think we'll be bringing in a good mix of players. Some will help us right away and some will be the future of Thunderbird football as they grow and mature."
The T-Birds signed five junior college players in the early signing period and added 22 more Wednesday. Meier inked 18 high school seniors (12 from Utah) and four more junior college transfers.
"Those guys (the junior college players) should be impact guys," Meier said.
Of the nine JUCO players, seven are offensive players and two are defensive.
"Overall we feel we got a really good group of kids," Meier said. "It seemed like a good year for good athletes."
The T-Birds didn't have to go far from home to get four players: RB Austin Minefee (Canyon View HS), WR Kevin Clements (Pine View HS), FB Garrett Blake (Dixie HS) and WR Tyler Fink (Dixie HS).
Jordan High quarterback Sean Taylor headlines the list of players from northern Utah.
"He was a good get for us," Meier said.
In the two signing periods, the T-Birds tabbed 13 from Utah, four from Idaho, four from Arizona, four from California and two from Nevada.
In all, 17 players are offensive — six offensive linemen; five receivers; four running backs and two quarterbacks — and 10 are defensive — five defensive backs, three defensive linemen and two linebackers.
"This group of younger kids, we feel like we got some good kids," Meier said. "We addressed the needs in the areas of offensive line, defensive line and the secondary."
SUU signing day 2007
THE GAME PLAN: The T-Birds picked up five midyear junior college transfers, who will be on campus for spring drills. SUU coach Wes Meier said those players, along with the 22 new recruits, will fill the holes. The T-Birds needed help at offensive line, defensive line and in the secondary, and Meier believes they recruited for their needs.
TOP OF THE CLASS: With the departure of Levi Erickson, Cody Heinrich (Del Sol HS, Las Vegas) could come in and fill Erickson's big shoes.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT: OL Tim Whipps (Eagle HS, Idaho) is a player Meier believes bigger schools overlooked. He could come in right now and be productive for the T-Birds.
2007 SIGNEES: Ben Black, DL, Capital HS (Idaho); Garrett Blake, FB, Dixie HS; Cody Bolken, OL, Eagle HS (Idaho); Kevin Clements, WR, Pine View HS; Joe Ellis, OL, Cyprus HS; Trevor Everett, LB, Lone Peak HS; Blake Fenn, DB, Union HS; Tyler Fink, WR, Dixie HS; Josh Fitisemanu, RB, Murray HS; Richard Giannelli, OL, Bakersfield CC (Calif.); Joel Johnson, TE, Phoenix CC; Patrick Kruse, OL, Park City HS; Mitch Meier, DB, Murray HS; Brad Meyer, DL, Capital HS (Idaho); Nick Miller, WR, Scottsdale CC (Ariz.); George Ortiz, DB, Feather River CC (Calif.); Easton Pedersen, WR, Lone Peak HS; Chase Pendley, DB, Skyline HS; Colin Pretlow, DB, Las Vegas HS (Nev.); Johan Rauge, FB, Phoenix CC (Ariz.); Zack Samorano, LB, Arizona Western CC; Cody Stone, QB, Bakersfield CC (Calif.); Sean Taylor, QB, Jordan HS; Jeremy Vilardo, OL, Victor Valley CC (Calif.); Tim Whipps, OL, Eagle HS (Idaho).
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