Dixie State Head Football Coach Paul Peterson announced the signing of 11 players to National Letters of Intent (NLI), along with the addition of two preferred walk-ons, during National Signing Day on Wednesday. 

"We are super excited for this 2022 Trailblazer signing class," Coach Peterson said. "Our staff did a great job identifying high level character and athleticism. With the growth of our program and new facilities these new student-athletes will fit right in to the culture being built. The future is bright with these new additions."

The Trailblazers loaded up on talent on the defensive side of the ball with seven prep additions and one junior college transfer, including five defensive linemen, along with two signed cornerbacks and one safety. DSU also added one quarterback, one running back, two offensive linemen, and one long snapper.  
   

NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Carter Bessire	OL	6-5	250	Whittier, Calif./La Habra HS
Logan Hicks	OL	6-6	270	San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS
Maoake Tahirori	DL	6-5	280	Draper, Utah/Juan Diego HS
Fasito-otai Sagapolu	DL	6-1	285	St. George, Utah/Crimson Cliffs HS
Mackavelli Malotumau	DL	6-1	290	Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS
Antonio Mayes	CB	6-1	185	Rialto, Calif./Jurupa Hills HS
William Kulihaapai-Alovao	DL	6-3	230	Kapolei, Hawai'i/Kapolei HS
TJ Talamoni-Marcks	DL	6-4	340	Lakeport, Calif./Clear Lake HS/Santa Rosa JC
Bronson Barben	QB	6-4	215	St. George, Utah/Dixie HS
Thomas Jones	RB	5-11	188	San Diego, Calif./San Diego HS
River Moore	CB	5-11	175	Saratoga Springs, Utah/Lehi HS
Ryan Kean	LS	6-2	200	Corona, Calif./Centennial HS (Committed admit)
Logan Mendenhall	S	6-4	200	St. George, Utah/Snow Canyon HS (Committed admit)
Boone Abbott	QB	6-5	205	Highland, Utah/American Fork HS/Hawai'i (December signee)
Tu'i Hala	DL	6-3	250	Hawthorne, Calif./Aquinas HS (December signee)
Eric Olsen	TE	6-5	205	St. George, Utah/Desert Hills HS (December signee)
Nui Tovey	LB	6-3	225	Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge HS (December signee)

Carter Bessire (NLI)                                   
OL / 6-5 / 250          
Whittier, Calif. / La Habra HS
Was a 2021 All-CIF and Orange County All-Star selection as a two-way starter at OL and DL.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Carter Bessire - "Carter is a long, tough, strong athletic offensive lineman. Playing both ways in high school is tough to do and he excelled. Carter has the length and size we are looking for. Excited to see his development."










Logan Hicks (NLI)                           
OL / 6-6 / 270          
San Diego, Calif. / Steele Canyon HS
Earned 2021 All-CIF San Diego division honors … was a three-year varsity starter … also recruited by San Diego State and Black Hills State.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Logan Hicks - "Watch the film and you will want to get out of his way! Big time road grader just made our offensive line better. He knows how to compete and win. He has a bright future as a Trailblazer."










Maoake Tahirori (NLI)                                
DL / 6-5 / 280          
Draper, Utah / Juan Diego HS
Was Utah 3A Honorable Mention All-State selection last fall … finished the year with 22 total tackles (6 solo) and one interception … also recruited by Southern Utah, Idaho and Morgan State.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Maoake Tahirori - "Maoake hails from Tahiti and originally came to play basketball at Juan Diego, but he wouldn't stop growing. He loves football and has the tools, athleticism and developmental potential to be a warrior on our defensive line."










Fasito-otai "Marley" Sagapolu (NLI)
DL / 6-1 / 285          
St. George, Utah / Crimson Cliffs HS
Tallied 86 total tackles with 43 solo stops, 10.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks and one interception in his senior season for the Mustangs … earned Deseret News First Team 4A All-State honors …  also lettered in track … recruited by SUU and Black Hills State.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Fasito-otai Sagapolu - "Loved watching him play both ways for Crimson Cliffs. When he went in at fullback, I knew it was a touchdown! Marley is super strong and knows how to mess up the middle. We expect great things quickly from him."









Mackavelli Malotumau (NLI)                     
DL / 6-1 / 290          
Oceanside, Calif. / El Camino HS
Racked up 67 total tackles with 32 solos stops, which included 7.5 sacks, in 13 games as a senior at ECHS last season … selected to play in the 31^st-Annual Alex Spanos All-Star Classic … also recruited by Northern Arizona, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Idaho.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Mackavelli Malotumau - "Mack-Attack loves football so much that he has a tackling sled at his house! Mack is a great fit for our program. He has tremendous explosiveness and he loves lighting dudes up! A fierce competitor and future star for our team. Mack is a big-time get!"









Antonio Mayes (NLI)                                  
CB / 6-1 / 185          
Rialto, Calif. / Jurupa Hills HS
Lettered in football, basketball and track at JHHS … tallied 10 total tackles, six PBUs, one interception and one forced fumble during his senior year.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Antonio Mayes - "Antonio is a tall long defensive back with the athleticism to cover the Wrs in our league. He has a great attitude, despite some hardship and will continue to grow in our program. Our DB room just got better."










Ryan Kean (Committed Admit)                                         
LS / 6-2 / 200           
Corona, Calif. / Centennial HS
Played receiver and was the Huskies' primary long snapper last season … ranked as the 17^th-best long snapper in the country by RubioLongSnapping.com … is a three-time scholar athlete honoree.  
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Ryan Kean - "Ryan comes from a winning program, knows how to work and is a technician snapping the football. Hopefully we only have to use his special snapping skills on extra points next year! He will compete right away."










William Kulihaapai-Alovao (NLI)  
DL / 6-3 / 230          
Kapolei, Hawai'i / Kapolei HS
Considered a fierce pass rusher for the Hurricanes … was selected to play in the 2022 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Bowl.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on William Kulihaapai-Alovao - "Will is a dynamic player with tremendous upside. He will be a big time impact player for the Trailblazers. He is super athletic and his motor won't stop. Excited to watch him wreck some quarterbacks in the future."










TJ Talamoni-Marcks (NLI)                        
DL / 6-4 / 340          
Lakeport, Calif. / Clear Lake HS / Santa Rosa JC
Collected 26 total tackles (17 solo), including 2.0 sacks and 5.5 TFLs, in eight games at SRJC last season … played in seven games during the 2019 season and finished with 19 tackles (14 solo) and 3.0 sacks … lettered in football, basketball and track and field at Clear Lake HS.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on TJ Talamoni-Marcks - "TJ is a brick. We play some big offensive lines, but he is bigger. Excited to get him into Coach Ena's and Coach Fangupo's system, he will add big time value to our defensive front."










Logan Mendenhall (Committed Admit)                                   
S / 6-4 / 200 
St. George, Utah / Snow Canyon HS
Tallied 50 total tackles and one interception for the Warriors last season … also lined up at receiver and made eight receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns … lettered in baseball. 
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Logan Mendenhall - "Logan is a tall, athletic, rangy safety who can cover the entire field. He has great ball skills and will hit you. Excited to see his strength and talent develop after he serves a mission."










Bronson Barben (NLI)                 
QB / 6-4 / 215         
St. George, Utah / Dixie HS
Helped lead the Flyers to the 2021 Utah 4A state championship game … threw for 1,731 yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to Deseret News first team all-state honors … averaged 192.3 yards per game and connected on 56.3 percent (125-222) of his throws … also rushed for 160 yards and three TDs … passed for 4,268 yards and 33 TDs over his prep career.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Bronson Barben - "The quarterback of the Trailblazers' future. Bronson has an NFL arm, proven winner, and is an elite competitor. Despite being sidelined for most of the season, Bronson led the Flyers to the [Utah 4A] state championship. We can't wait to get him back after he serves a mission."










Thomas Jones (NLI)                                             
RB / 5-11 / 188       
San Diego, Calif. / San Diego HS
Rushed for 583 yards and six touchdowns last season … averaged 10.6 ypc and posted three 100-yard rush games … also recruited by Southern Utah.
Head Coach Paul Peterson on Thomas Jones - "Thomas' effort is on display with his first couple clips of HUDL film- ball hawk. He has the size and speed to be a record setting back. He has great field vision, works and his potential is through the roof."










River Moore (NLI)
CB / 5-11 / 175         
Saratoga Springs, Utah / Lehi HS
Collected 66 total tackles and five interceptions during his senior campaign last fall for the Pioneers … ran back a pick-six for the Pioneers' first score in their Utah 5A state championship game victory over Springville HS … also lettered in track … was recruited by Southern Utah and BYU. 
Head Coach Paul Peterson on River Moore - "River played a key role in winning the state championship with multiple INTs. He is long and rangy and continues to grow. River has great leadership ability and his smile is contagious. He wants to be great. We will eagerly await his return from a mission."