Football | 3/4/2022 10:39:00 AM

Dixie State Football opened its 2022 spring camp this week to begin preparation for its third NCAA Division I FCS season and the program's first full season in the Western Athletic Conference.
 
The Trailblazers will hold 13 practices during spring camp, which will conclude with the annual spring game at Greater Zion Stadium on Saturday, April 9.

In addition to the spring drills, the Trailblazer football program will hold its annual golf tournament fundraiser on Friday, April 8, at Bloomington Country Club. For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to register for the tournament, please contact Carissa Martinez at carissa.martinez@dixie.edu.  
 
Paul Peterson (Boston College, 2006) returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Trailblazer football program. Peterson has posted an 11-16 overall record in his previous three seasons on the DSU sidelines.
 
In 2021, Dixie State finished its first full D-I FCS season with a 1-10 overall record, which included an 0-3 mark in its limited WAC debut. However the Trailblazers did not shy away from any opponent as DSU played the toughest-rated FCS schedule in the entire country, which featured seven programs that advanced to the 2021 NCAA FCS Playoffs, including the defending 2020-21 national champion Sam Houston.
 
DSU placed two players on the 2021 all-WAC postseason awards list, including safety Tyrell Grayson, who earned second team all-WAC and HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-America honors after he finished the regular season as the unofficial NCAA Division I FCS leader in solo tackles with 79.

Grayson also led the WAC in total tackles with 103, which was ranked in the top-30 unofficially at the FCS level. However, because Dixie State was in the second year of its four-year transition to the Division I FCS level, the program was not eligible to be listed in the national statistical rankings.  
 
Linebacker Will Leota also earned second team all-WAC recognition after he finished third on the team in tackles with 54 (13^th in the WAC), including 15 solo stops, during his freshman campaign. He also ranked fourth on the Blazer defense with 4.5 TFLs.
 
In all, Dixie State returns 10 principal starters on both offense and defense from last season's squad. DSU also welcomes in a new offensive coordinator in Craig Stutzmann, while the Blazer defense will be under the direction of current linebackers coach Misi Tupe and new safeties coach Shane Hunter, who will both share co-defensive coordinator duties.
 
The Trailblazers will play four of their 11 games this upcoming fall inside Greater Zion Stadium, starting with their 2022 home opener against Chadron State on Saturday, Sept. 10. DSU will host three WAC opponents in Abilene Christian (Oct. 1), Lamar (Homecoming – Oct. 8), and perennial FCS power Sam Houston (Nov. 5).

DSU's seven-game road slate includes three in-state battles, including a date at Weber State (Sept. 17), its WAC opener at new conference foe Southern Utah (Sept. 24), and a trip to Provo to play at FBS member BYU (Nov. 19) in the season finale. The Blazers will kick off the season at Sacramento State (Sept. 3), and will play at Northern Iowa (Oct. 15), at WAC member Stephen F. Austin (Oct. 29), and at WAC newcomer University of the Incarnate Word (Nov. 12).
 
Season and single game tickets for the upcoming 2022 season will go on sale in the coming weeks.
 
The 2022 DSU spring practice schedule at Greater Zion Stadium is listed below, and it is subject to change.
 
Tuesday, March 1 – 7-9 a.m.
Thursday, March 3 – 7-9 a.m.
Saturday, March 5 – 7-9 a.m.
Tuesday, March 8 – 7-9 a.m.
Thursday, March 10 – 7-9 a.m.
Tuesday, March 22 – 7-9 a.m.
Thursday, March 24 – 7-9 a.m.
Saturday, March 26 – 7-9 a.m.
Tuesday, March 29 – 7-9 a.m.
Thursday, March 31 – 7-9 a.m.
Saturday, April 2 – 7-9 a.m.
Tuesday, April 5 – 7-9 a.m.
Thursday, April 7 – 7-9 a.m.
Saturday, April 9 - TBA (Spring Game)