SUU gets commitment from Layton lineman

Southern Utah University football coach Wes Meier can thank freshman wide receiver Braden Godfrey for helping Meier land the T-Birds' latest high-school recruit.

Austin Curtis, 6-foot, 280 pounds, verbally committed to play for the Thunderbirds after hearing great things about the program from Godfrey, his former teammate at Layton High.

"He really likes the program and the way it's heading," Curtis said of his conversations with Godfrey, who was named the Great West Football Conference's freshman of the year.

"It looks like it's a program on the rise — promising program," said Curtis, a three-year starter for the Lancers. "I felt it would be the best fit for me as a player and as a person."

Curtis, an all-Region 1 selection and Deseret Morning News first-team all-state player, started on the defensive line as a sophomore, and played both offense and defense his junior and senior years.

Also as a senior, he had five carries at fullback and scored five touchdowns.

He will most likely play defense with the T-Birds.

"They told me if I go in ready to play, I would have a chance to contribute," Curtis said.

Curtis joins Brighton High linebacker Alex Richardson to verbally commit to Southern Utah.

The T-Birds also inked four junior college transfers during the early signing period.

The official signing day is Feb. 2.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com