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ST. GEORGE -- Dixie State head football coach Scott Brumfield has announced the first group of signings for the 2012 recruiting class.
Joining the Red Storm are: DL/LB Aaron Austad, SS/OLB Chase Barney, OL Dalton Cole, DL Ben Gottfredson, LB Tyson Greenwood, P/RB Jonathan Maxwell, S Robert Metz, DL Kevin Mortenson, RB Cameron Peacock, WR Cooper Robinson, DE Boston Saunders, OL Chad Tripp, DB/WR JacobWitham and WR/DB Weston Yardley.
Dixie State 2012 signing class
| Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Austad | DL/LB | 6-1 | 235 | Manti High School |
| Chase Barney | SS/OLB | 5-11 | 195 | East High School |
| Dalton Cole | OL | 6-5 | 270 | Logan High School |
| Ben Gottfredson | DL | 6-3 | 235 | Snow Canyon High School |
| Tyson Greenwood | LB | 6-0 | 210 | Syracuse High School |
| Jonathan Maxwell | P/RB | 5-9 | 179 | Palo Verde High School (NV) |
| Robert Metz | SS/FS | 6-4 | 210 | Canyon del Oro High School (AZ) |
| Kevin Mortenson | DL | 6-4 | 240 | Hurricane High School |
| Cameron Peacock | RB | 6-0 | 170 | West Jordan High School |
| Cooper Robinson | WR | 6-3 | 205 | Snow Canyon High School |
| Boston Saunders | DE | 6-4 | 220 | Morgan High School |
| Chad Tripp | OL | 6-3 | 270 | Alta High School |
| Jacob Witham | DB/Slot | 5-9 | 180 | Palo Verde High School (NV) |
| Weston Yardley | DB/Slot | 5-10 | 165 | Hurricane High School |
Aaron Austad, DL/LB
Aaron comes to Dixie State after a very heralded career at Manti High School. Austin lead his team to a Utah state championship his senior year, earning the Deseret News Class 2A Most Valuable Player. He was also named first team all-state, as well as being selected to the US Air Force All-American Team by MaxPreps.com.
"Aaron is a tremendous football player that brings great leadership traits to Dixie," Brumfield said. "He has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout his high school career."
Chase Barney, SS/OLB
Chase was an all-state performer his senior season at East High School, leading his team to the 4A State Championship Game.
Brumfield said: "Chase possesses all of the tools to be a great contributor here at Dixie. He has a great motor, and a knack for the ball, and loves football."
Dalton Cole, OL
Dalton was a first team All-State performer, anchoring the line for Logan High School, leading his team to claim the 4A State Championship. He was named the Region 5 Offensive Lineman of the Year for the undefeated Grizzlies.
"Dalton had a tremendous senior season," Brumfield said. "Dalton has all of the tools to come in and have an immediate impact here at Dixie State. Dalton was heavily recruited by many schools, and we are very glad to have had him choose Dixie State."
Ben Gottfredson, DL
Ben was a tremendous leader and defensive lineman for the Warriors this season. He was an all-state recipient in both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune.
"We are very excited to have Ben as a part of our 2012 recruiting class," Brumfield said. "His determination, and work ethic is hard not to notice on the field. He has a big frame, possesses a tremendous upside. I love the way Ben approaches everything he does, from the football field, to the basketball court, and in the classroom. He will be a big asset for the program for years to come."
Tyson Greenwood, LB
Greenwood is an all-state performer for Syracuse High School. Tyson is the cousin of current Dixie DE Dustin Goza.
Brumfield said: "Tyson is a tough physical hard nosed kid. Our target area in this years recruiting class was young linebackers and Tyson is one that we have targeted for two years. We are very excited to have Tyson, and he will be a big fixture in the future.
Jonathan Maxwell, P/RB
Jonathan was an All-Northwest conference punter his senior year at Palo Verde. Jonathan is the younger brother of Maurice Maxwell, a member of the 2010 Red Storm program, who is currently serving an LDS mission.
"Jonathan was a all-state running back his junior year," Brumfield said. "During his senior year, he averaged over 40 yard per punt attempt. He is a versatile athlete, that will have a bright future here at Dixie."
Robert Metz, SS/FS
First Team all Section Defensive back for Canyon Del Oro.
Brumfield said: "Many times when you recruit, a kid pops up that you go ‘wow'. Robert is a long physical safety, with great speed and aggression. Every year you hope to find a kid or two that slipped through the cracks of Division-I programs, and without hesitation, Robert is one of those kids. He has the ability to play in space, as well as coming forward and being physical in the trenches. I feel Robert will be a star in the near future here at Dixie State.
Kevin Mortenson, DL
Kevin was a First Team All-State selection, leading the Tigers to a state championship his senior year. Kevin is a very physical hard working blue-collar type kid, that will have a great career at Dixie State.
"Any time we can keep the local talent close to home, we are excited, and to bring in this type of kid will strengthen our program," Brumfield said.
Cameron Peacock, RB
Cameron was named honorable mention all-state his senior year for the Jaguars.
"Cameron has tremendous speed that will create a lot of matchup problems for opposing teams," Brumfield said. "His versatility will make him valuable being able to run and catch the ball out of the backfield."
Cooper Robinson, WR
Cooper is a very talented receiver for the Snow Canyon Warriors.
Brumfield said: "We feel that Cooper is a kid that we think went under the radar, and we are very glad to have him. I think his upsize and potential will make him a player that will have a impact during his career at Dixie."
Boston Saunders, DE
Saunders was a First Team all-state defensive linemen and an excellent basketball player from Morgan High School.
"Boston is a tremendous athlete, and has a tremendous frame at 6-4," Brumfield said. "We felt like Boston, may have the most upsize of any recruit we have seen this year. I am sure Coach Wilson and Coach Thompson will have some heated discussions on what side of the ball he will play here at Dixie. We look for him to develop into a dominating force for the Red Storm program."
Chad Tripp, OL
Chad anchored Alta High Schools offensive line, leading them to a 9-2 record his senior year.
"We are very excited to sign Chad," Brumfield said. "Young offensive lineman was another focus of our efforts this recruiting year, and Chad was someone that we watched extensively and knew he was someone we felt like could develop into a great offensive lineman for us in the future."
Jacob Witham, DB/Slot
Jacob was named First Team All -Northwest League as a defensive back his senior season. Jacob was a two-way starter for the Panthers.
Brumfield said: "Jacob possesses great speed and athleticism. We are very excited to have him. He is a tough, versatile player that always made plays when his team needed one. We considered Jacob one of the top overall athletes in the recruiting process this year."
Weston Yardley, DB/Slot
Weston had a great senior season leading the Tigers to the 3A State Championship. He was named to both 1st team all- state publications. Weston finished his season with 12 touchdowns and 9 Interceptions.
Brumfield said: "We are very excited to have Weston as a part of our program. He possesses great quickness and speed. When you combine that with his will and determination, you have a tremendous athlete. He will be fun to have here for the next four years."
