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Show /" -=-=--::..::....:.::.::..:.....::...:...:..::.....:_ _~:........::__~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~:;;--::-~9IB3IIIm §J:Mrfilr§ 0 i~ T hunderbird gridders itching to suit up Brett Williams (G. 6-2, 295). and juniors John Uriarte (G, 6-3, 275) and Andy Nelson With 34 lettermen, including 16 starters, returning, the 1998 Thunderbirds are as (f, 5· 10, 255) returning after starting the bulk of last season's games. Jim Langford experienced as they have been since 1993, when they had 17 starters returning. All· (Sr, T, 6-4, 235) and Jeff Wilson (So, T, 6-0, 245) also return. America fullback Brook Madsen and linebacker Jimmy Brimmer return to lead their The skill people are fairly set as well. With Cannon moving to quarterback. the respective units, which are both filled with returning starters. Nine players who Thunderbirds essentially lose a slotback. but they had a stable-full last year including started the majority of last year's games on the offensive side of the ball return, and returners Terry Rose (Jr, 6-0, 175), Anthony (A.J .) Jefferies (Sr. 5· 10, 200), and Koby sLx return on the defense. Leon (So. 5-11, 195). Rose is a two-year starter who has b een among the team·s top Junior free safety Josh Roberts, a graduate of Mountain View High and Snow rushers and receivers the past two seasons, while Jefferies and Leon were steady College, has had the most immediate impact of any newcomer, which is saying backups last year. In addition to that Lrio, Nathan Leifson (5- 11 , 190, So) will switch something, since this is certainly one of the best recruiting classes in SUU history. from fullback to slot this season and Sam 1:lliott (So, 5·9, 170) will split Lime "Josh is going to be an impact player," SUU Defensive Coordinator Chris Howard between slot and receiver, his 1997 p osition. 111row freshman Rod M:idsen (5·10, said. "He has great intensity, good movement and hands and obviously loves to play --...--,=--...,.n 175) and redshirt freshman Russell Thompson (5· 11, ·the game. We're expecting a lot of great play from ~ 6"'>11PJ 190) into the mix and the team is deep at slotback. him." "Roberts has been the biggest surprise of camp," TI1e heart and soul o f SUU's offense 1he past two Gregory says. "He was an unannounced signee, a seasons, however, has been Madsen. The 5· 10, 225· player we convinced to come to SUU late in the pounder, w ho is something of a cross bet ween a recruiting season, but he's a great atlllete. Roberts is a battering ram and Lhe Energizer Bunny, has rnshed for striker who nms well, plays with e nthusiasm and 2,619 yards and 25 touchdowns the past two seasons. appears to be a real leader." aver:iging 5.6 ya.rds per carry. He has been voted to the Roberts, who had the team's highest vertical jump l·AA All-Independent first team in each of the past two. (32 inches. standing) and ran a 4.53 second 40-yard seasons, an<l has been named Lo three diffe rent all· dash in the team's opening testing workout, will America teams during chat time span. In addition , he compete with two-year starter Chad Huntsman, a was a GTE Academic All-bistrict VIII performer last . graduate from Cyprns HS. for the starting fn:e safety year. "Brook mns as hard as :inyone I've ever b een position. Gregory and Howard both said they feel good around," Gregory said. ''He gives gren effort on every :ibout how workouts h:we gone so far. snap. plays very hard :iml is very ph ysic:il. Our off<:nse "We·ve shown the ability to be mon.: athleLic than i~ ick:tl for ltim . and IH:·s ic.le:il for our offense. I k wc·vc ever been, " Howard noted. 'This group has the und1:rst:1mls o ur scheme :incl knows what ·s going on at potential to be the best defense we've had at SUU in a all times. He's also ,-cry hard to tackle - h<.: ne,·cr :,tops long time." . running." "The player~ reponed in excellent shape.~ Gregory Although the defense will be hit a little harder h y addc:d ··we·re a stronger and faster h:tllclub than losses to graduation and church missions -than th<.: were ,i:hen we left [for summer ,·:1cation) . offense w ill. th<.: core still returns. DE Gary Re<:d and .. Right now though (:1s of Friday afternoon). the guy~ his 20 tackles-for-lose; will b<: missed, as will art· edgy:· he :idded. · n1ey' rc ready to start striking cornerb:u.:k J:icob Colton. a walk-on who took o, c:r as a somebody. we·ve been in shorts and p:-tds with limited ~tan<:r in the third w<:ek of the ,cason and wound up contact. lifting :1nd working o ut; thcy·re ·looking CO·lcading the te:im in intcrct:ptions. Recd gr.1du:1ted forward to some full c ontact, which we·11 get to last spring, while Colton h:is de parted on an LOS [SmurdayJ .~ missio n. The 'Dirds will also miss graduated DT Curtis Additional players w ho have impn:sscd the coaches IIP-ll!!'ll'!W'P!'l._. ."'!'m_ll"l. .'1'911!'ml"II-:.';.-;,.-;.;,;.--='--' Cook - :inother GTE Academic All-District performer through the first few days of camp include junior and LB Colin Ash, anothe r missio n loss. but aside fro m slot bac k Terry Rose (Bonneville HS), linebackers Mike Lhat group. the Thunderbirds return almost everyone Shepard Or, Tooele HS) and Clay Marshall (Grad; who was on the defensive depth chart at season's end. Beaver HS). · Two-time all-independent honoree Clay Marshall (Sr, Rose cut his 40-mcters time from 4.62 to 4.50 during 6-0, 220). who has led the team in tackles in each of the off-season while managing to stay strong enough to the last two seasons playing a little linebacker, a little squat 455 pounds 10 times. "We just had to make him safety and some rover, retmns. as docs Brimmer (Sr, 6stop (lifting]." Gregory noted. 2, 225). an All-America selection by the Associated Shepard, who finished second on the team with 72 Press. Walter Camp and Football Gazelle last year. tackles along with i1 tackles-for-loss last year, and Marshall has 181 tackles and five interceptions in the Marshall, the team's leading tackler the past two last two seasons, while Brimmer emerged from the seasons, both bulked up during the off-season. depth chart abyss with 13.5 sacks for 89 yards in losses "Clay reported in the best shape he's ever been in, and 20 total TFI.s among his 66 tackles last ye;ir. and that's saying something." Gregory pointed out, Also returning at linebacker is jW1ior Mike Shepard "and Mike has looked great out there." (6-0, 235), who was second on the team with 72 Marshall ran a·4.61 40, despite going from 215 to 235 tackles, including 21 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks, and pounds in the off-season, while Shepard went from 220 Chance Larsen (Sr, 6-2, 220), who had 35 tackles with to 245 pound and still ran the 40 in 4.7 seconds. a sack in 1997. Randy Hunter (Jr, 6-0, 190) will move up from free safety to The only real problem for this team appears to be the schedule. Five teams which linebacker this year as well.figure in as starters on a lot of teams. advanced to post-season competition are on the slate, with three of those contest on Up front, the SU returns two of four starters: tackle Mana Kula (Sr, 5-11, 285) and the road. This is not a bunch of first round losers either, as all but one of the five end Ahaz Griffeth (Sr, 5·11, 250). Kula was the anchor of last season's line, with 52 made it at least to the quarter-finals of their respective national championship tackles and 18 TFLs from his noseguard spot, while Griffeth finished with 35 tackles. playoffs. McNeese St. played in the l·AA championship game, losing to Youngstown Along the defensive front are sophomores Howard Vaifanua (6-1, 235) and St., 10-9. Eastern Washington advanced to the l·AA semi-finals, Western Ilinois made Michael Tahu (6-1, 275) and redshirt freshman Amu McMoore (6-0, 235), while it to the 1-AA quarterfinals and UC Davis made it to the Division 11 semi-finals. Of the Bingham opened some eyes after making the switch from wide receiver to quick five playoff teams SUU faces in' 1998, perennial power Montana was the only team end in spring ball. not to make it as far as the quaner finals. At comer, the 'Birds lose Colton but return Clint Brown (5· l 0, 160) - who staned Both Gregory and Howard said the team has heard enough about the difficulty of every game last year as a true freshman - while newcomers Ryan Renteria Or, 5- 10, the schedule. "the g11ys are tired of he_a ring about how tough the schedule is," 180, Snow JC) and Rob Kim Or, 5-9, 180, SaddlebackJC) and rcdshirt freshman Gregory sai9. "We've taken on the attitude of 'let them worry about us.'" Jeremy Avila (5·9, 170) all had good springs. "Right now w e 're not scared of anyone." Howard added. "We may have the At safety, Chad Huntsman Or, 6-1, 180), a two-year starter who tallied 54 tackles toughest schedule in the country, but the players don't seem to care. We know and a pair of interceptions last year, returns as well, as does Kenny Lindsay (Jr, 6-0, we're going to play hard, and ifwe play hard and execute, we know we have a 170), who has played in ever.y game the past two seasons and can line up at either chance with anyone." comer or safety. Practically everyone returns from the offense which has ranked among l·AA's top Returning on special teams is kickoff return specialist (and WR) Sam Elliott, who two in rushing the past two seasons, but the two starters who graduated will be wound up 10th among l ·M kickoff returners last season with a 26.5-yard average, missed: quarterback Joe Dupaix and guard Adam Black. Dupaix rushed for more t-arning second-team all-independent recognition. Brown, who would have been than 1,900 yards in his two seasons at SUU, while Black was a three-year starter at among the nation's leaders in punt remrns but didn't have enough attempts to both guard and tackle. The heir apparent at quarterback is sophmore Matt Cannon, who completed 25 of · qualify, averaged 10.9 yards per return in 1997. Back to take care of the punting duties is Cannon, who averaged 40.1 yards per 57 passes for 490 yards and three TDs with no interceptions last year, while rushing punt in '97 to rank 29th In 1-AA, despite that his first-ever punt came in the second for 1,024 yards, playing primarily at slotback. The core of the offensive line is solid, with seniors Gary Sharp (C(f, 6-2, 275) and game of 1997. ,,T ., |