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Calling it a "banner year" for in-state recruiting, Southern Utah coach Ed Lamb signed 24 players to letters of intent on Wednesday.

Eighteen members of SUU's recruiting class are from Utah, led by Jordan High School defensive lineman Zach Larsen.

A Salt Lake Tribune first-team all-state selection, he is the brother of Southern Utah All-American Cody Larsen.

"I'm really pleased with the Utah part of our recruiting," Lamb said. "It's the best year for us, in terms of recruiting the state, that we've ever had."

According to Lamb, his roster of recruits wasn't finalized until the final hours of the process.

"We had some real down-the-stretch battles for some guys," he said. "With three of four of them, it was really nip-and-tuck."

Among the out-of-state recruits signed by SUU are East Los Angeles College quarterback Aaron Cantu and 300-pound offensive lineman Daniel Fleischman, a transfer from the University of Wyoming.

Cantu led all junior college players with 3,358 passing yards last year. He is the heir apparent to record-setting quarterback Brad Sorensen, who is expected to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.

"Aaron had a lot of other options," Lamb said. "He's one of most highly recruited guys we've ever signed. He's very much like Brad — a tall pocket-passer with a quick release."

Southern Utah signed two other players from California: defensive lineman Dashaun Cosby from Tennyson High School near Oakland and first-team all-CIF quarterback Tyler Fenton from The Webb School in Claremont, Calif.

The Thunderbirds also signed long snapper Chandler Dowell of Desert Vista (Ariz.) High School and running back Pete Williams of Denver South High.

Otherwise, Lamb stayed in Utah.

He signed four players from St. George, including all-state quarterback Ty Rutledge and offensive lineman Josh Anderson from Desert Hills High School and defensive linemen Weslee Moeai and Wesley Kauvaka of Pine View. —

SUU's 2013 class

Player High school/JC Pos. Ht. Wt.

Lehi Afatasi Kearns HS DL 6-1 280

Toa Afatasi Kearns HS FB 5-9 190

Chinedu Ahanonu West Jordan HS LB 6-0 215

Josh Anderson Desert Hills HS OL 6-3 245

Greg Aspinall Timpview HS FB 5-11 205

Dorien Banks Cottonwood HS LB 5-10 210

Pat Baker South Sevier HS LB 6-2 190

Aaron Cantu East L.A. College QB 6-3 215

Malcolm Card-Turner Highland HS WR 6-1 180

Dashaun Cosby Tennyson (Calif.) HS DL 6-6 200

Chandler Dowell Desert Vista (Ariz.) HS LS 5-11 210

James Felila Kearns HS RB 6-1 190

Tyler Fenton The Webb (Calif) School QB 6-2 190

Daniel Fleischman Issaquah (Wash.) HS OL 6-6 300

Collin Greenhill Layton Christian HS DL 6-2 260

Wesley Kauvaka Pine View HS DL 6-4 275

Zach Larsen Jordan HS DL 6-1 270

Weslee Moeai Pine View HS DL 6-3 280

Sialao Mobley Herriman HS LB 6-1 190

P.J. Nu'usa East HS DL 6-1 275

Ty Rutledge Desert Hills HS Ath. 6-1 180

Mafua Vailolo Woods Cross HS LB 5-11 205

Pete Williams Denver South HS RB 5-9 180

Mason Woodward Syracuse HS DL 6-1 270