(COACH PETERSON JOINS TRAILBLAZER WEEKLY TO REVIEW DSU'S 2021 SIGNING CLASS)

Dixie State Head Football Coach Paul Peterson announced the signing of 14 players, along with the addition of one preferred walk-on, during National Signing Day on Wednesday.

"One of the things we feel really bad about is that a lot of these kids weren't able to play because of the COVID restrictions," Coach Peterson said. "There are some really good athletes out there, and we were really selective with who we decided to sign. I think we lucked out with some of these kids who maybe in another year wouldn't be considering us because they'd be at a higher level. That's my opinion, but they are all fantastic."

The Trailblazers loaded up on talent on the defensive side of the ball with 11 prep signees, including eight defensive linemen, along with two signed linebackers and one preferred walk-on, and one defensive back. DSU also inked UNLV transfer quarterback Kenyon Oblad, and added one wide receiver and one offensive lineman.
 
"We definitely had some needs to fill," said Peterson. "We addressed some needs at the defensive line position, that's the one area we signed the most guys in. I thought we did a great job with our recruiting visits. There is no [in person] on or off campus contact with the student-athletes, so we got really good with Zoom and it was a good fit.
 
"Our coaches did a really good job showing what we have here [at Dixie State]. I think there is a lot of trust with these [new signees] and with us, and with us trusting them too in not being able to shake their hand and look them in the eyes, but we got a really good class and I'm excited about it."

   

NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
James Palmer	WR	6-2	185	Lehi, Utah / Skyridge HS
Will Leota	LB	6-2	190	Salem, Utah / Salem Hills HS
TJ McRae	DL	6-3	280	Peoria, Ariz. / Centennial HS
Cooper Wall	DL	6-4	230	Tumwater, Wash. / Tumwater HS
Syrus Webster	DL	6-4	245	West Jordan, Utah / West Jordan HS
Poi Aina	DL	6-4	228	Oxnard, Calif. / Pacifica HS
Rick Mua'e	DL	6-3	250	St. George, Utah / Pine View HS
Kenyon Oblad	QB	6-3	190	Henderson, Nev. / Liberty HS / UNLV (scholarship offer)
Tyson Guild	DL	6-5	205	Las Vegas, Nev. / Durango HS
Mark Andrew Springer	OL	6-6	290	Sandy, Utah / Alta HS
Kailer Laufiso	LB	6-4	225	West Jordan, Utah / Copper Hills HS
Nathaniel Pryor	DL	6-3	295	Converse, Texas / Judson HS
Bryant Weekly	DB	6-1	175	Pittsburg, Calif. / Pittsburg HS
Jacob Gibson	DL	6-6	223	Long Beach, Calif. / Mayfair HS
Preston Anderson	LB	6-3	220	Roy, Utah / Roy HS (walk-on)
Isaiah Afatasi	RB	5-11	165	West Jordan, Utah / Kearns HS (December Early Signee)
Isaac Lees	DL	6-4	265	Ivins, Utah / Snow Canyon HS (December Early Signee)

2021 Dixie State Football Signing Class (Feb. 3, 2021)
Poi Aina
Defensive Line / 6-4 / 228
Oxnard, Calif. / Pacifica HS
As a junior, he recorded 57 tackles, including eight TFLs and six sacks, to help lead his team to a 15-1 overall record and a 2019 CIF State Division 2A championship … also received offers from Western Colorado and St. Thomas.

Preston Anderson (Preferred Walk-on)
Linebacker / 6-3 / 220
Roy, Utah / Roy HS
Was a two-time first team all-region selection for the Royals … during his senior season, he recorded 81 tackles, nine TFLs and 3.5 sacks on defense … also caught six passes for 109 yards and one touchdown … also stars on the Royals' basketball team … older brother Nate is currently a DSU Trailblazer defensive lineman.

Jacob Gibson
Defensive Line / 6-6 / 223
Long Beach, Calif. / Mayfair HS
Recorded 19 tackles with three sacks and two TFLs tackles for the Monsoons last season.

Tyson Guild
Defensive Line / 6-5 / 205
Las Vegas, Nev. / Durango HS
Was a first team all-conference and second team all-state selection for the Trailblazers after recording nine sacks as a junior … also received offers from Northern Arizona and Colorado State-Pueblo.  

Kailer Laufiso
Linebacker / 6-4 / 225
West Jordan, Utah / Copper Hills HS
Was credited for 32 total tackles, including six TFLs, along with two fumble recoveries during his senior season … is also a standout basketball player for the Grizzlies.

Will Leota
Linebacker / 6-2 / 190
Salem, Utah / Salem Hills HS
Was a first team all-state and all-region selection … tallied 75 total tackles with seven TFLs, and made six interceptions for a team who appeared in the Utah 5A state semifinals last fall.

TJ McRae
Defensive Line / 6-3 / 280
Peoria, Ariz. / Centennial HS
3-star recruit (247sports.com) … anchored the defensive line for the Arizona high school power … in a shortened senior season, he recorded six sacks for the fifth-ranked Coyotes … also received an offer from Memphis.

Rick Mua'e
Defensive Line / 6-3 / 250
St. George, Utah / Pine View HS
3-star recruit (247sports.com) … posted three sacks and 11 TFLs during his senior campaign and helped lead the Panthers to the Utah 4A state championship game … also received offers Utah State and Southern Utah.  

Kenyon Oblad
Quarterback / 6-3 / 190
Henderson, Nev. / Liberty HS / UNLV
Played in 12 career games for the Rebels, including starting the final eight games as a freshman in 2019 … threw for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, and passed for at least one TD in each of his eight starts freshman starts … was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week in December of 2019 after throwing for 229 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime win vs. Nevada … appeared in one game for UNLV this past season (at San Diego State – 10/24/2020) … a 2017 graduate of Liberty HS in Henderson, Nev., where he led the Patriots to a 44-9 record and finished as the Nevada HS all-time leading passer with 11,828 yards and 116 TDs.

James Palmer
Wide Receiver / 6-2 / 185
Lehi, Utah / Skyridge HS
Was named first team all-state after racking up 1,100 yards receiving and 14 TDs for a Skyridge team that finished 10-3 … also received offers from Northern Colorado and Valparaiso.

Nathaniel Pryor
Defensive Line / 6-3 / 295
Converse, Texas / Judson HS
During his shortened senior season, he recorded 36 total tackles, four TFLs and four sacks for the Texas HS powerhouse … also received offers from New Mexico State, Navy, Incarnate Word, Lamar and Northern Colorado.

Mark Andrew Springer
Offensive Line / 6-6 / 290
Sandy, Utah / Alta HS
Was selected to the Blue-Gray All American Bowl … was a 2020 first team all-region selection at left tackle for the Hawks, recording 10 pancake blocks his senior season … also received offers from Incarnate Word and Colorado Mesa.

Cooper Wall
Defensive Line / 6-4 / 230
Tumwater, Wash. / Tumwater HS
3-star recruit (247sports.com) … helped lead the Thunderbirds to a Washington 2A state championship … recorded 13 sacks and nine TFLs, and was an all-state selection as a junior … also received offers from Utah State, Weber State, Air Force, Wyoming, Eastern Washington, Montana State, Portland State and Central Washington.

Syrus Webster
Defensive Line / 6-4 / 245
West Jordan, Utah / West Jordan HS
2-star recruit (247sports.com) … was a two-time first team all-region selection for the Jaguars … recorded 80 career tackles, including 17 sacks and 30 TFLS, to go with 38 quarterback hurries … also received offers from Southern Utah and Idaho State

Bryant Weekly
Defensive Back / 6-1 / 175
Pittsburg, Calif. / Pittsburg HS
3-star recruit (247sports.com) … recorded 37 total tackles, two interceptions and 13 PBUs during his junior season … also received offers from Utah State, Fresno State and Florida Atlantic.

2021 Dixie State Football Early Signees (Dec. 16, 2020)
Isaiah Afatasi
Running Back / 5-11 / 165  
West Jordan, Utah / Kearns HS
Averaged 6.4 yards per carry during his senior campaign … also recorded 111 tackles and three interceptions for the Cougar defense … collected 2018 and 2019 Region 2 MVP honors and was a two-time Utah 6A First Team All-State selection … scored 21 total touchdowns as a junior on offense, and made 82 tackles and six interceptions on defense … also recruited by Utah State, Hawai'i, UNLV and Weber State.  

Isaac Lees
Defensive Line / 6-4 / 265
Ivins, Utah / Snow Canyon HS
Was a 2020 Deseret News Utah 4A First Team All-State pick after posting 64 total tackles (39 solo stops) and 4.5 sacks … averaged 5.8 tackles per game during his senior campaign … also earned The Spectrum second team all-Region 9 recognition.