Southern Utah received votes in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Thunderbirds finished 7-5 last year, missing the FCS playoffs.
Here’s a look at the 2025 SUU football squad.
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Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (4)
1st Team
Sebastian Adamski (Drake transfer)
2nd Team
OL Edward Riley
DE Lando Brown
LS Gavin Lipkin
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (4)
Sebastian Adamski (LB), Drake
Joey Garza (TE), McNeese
Blake Stillwell (DB), Montana State
Tim Christian (DB), Sac State
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (10)
Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner (DB), Air Force
Myles Amey (DL), Arizona State
Sirri Kandiyeli (OL), Arizona State
TrayVaughn Swanigan (DL), Coastal Carolina
Hayden George (TE), Nevada
Colin Hague (S), Utah
Kadiyon Sweat (S), Utah State
Seni Tuiaki (DL), Utah State
Joshua Dye (RB), UTEP
Josiah Dye (S), UTEP
Transfers Lost To The FCS (8)
Tyler Feldkamp (WR) to Duquesne
Cooper LeDuc (CB) to Northern Arizona
Steven Eakins (OL) to Northern Arizona
Brendan Hale (DB) to Tennessee State
Dylan Kirby (OL) to UIW
Zach Mitchell (WR) to UIW
Breken Bowan (DL) to Weber State
Devyn Perkins (DB) to Utah Tech
Transfers Lost To The FBS (4)
Kyle Sfarcioc (OL) to BYU
Anisi Purcell (DL) to BYU
Trent Whalen (LB) to Kent State
Walker Harris (DL) to Oregon State
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Offensive Outlook
SUU’s offense loses its All-American running back and four of its top five offensive linemen in snaps. The unit, which averaged 29.1 points per game last season, returns its top three wide receivers and a quarterback with starting experience.
Targhee Lambson was a focal point of the offense in 2024, toting the rock 320 times for 1,922 yards and 23 touchdowns. That standout production needs to be replaced in 2025. Braedon Wissler looks to step into a bigger role after finishing No. 2 on last year’s squad with 63 carries for 249 yards.
The o-line will need rebuilding, losing four of its top five players in reps. Edward Riley (6’0″ 305 lbs) anchors the unit after an All-UAC Second Team season. Jeremy Perkins (6’3″ 290 lbs) and Sione Tai (6’3″ 300 lbs) bring back valuable experience. Perkins played 350+ snaps last year, and Tai added more than 200.
Experience at wide receiver could ease the pressure on the run game. Shane Carr is back after tallying 31 catches for 627 yards and six touchdowns. Gabe Nunez added 44 receptions for 627 yards and three touchdowns. No. 3 WR Devin Downing also returns after recording 19 catches for 293 yards and two scores.
Keep an eye on McNeese transfer tight end Joey Garza as an impactful addition
Quarterback play, of course, will be key in getting the offense going.
Jackson Berry is gone after leading the team with 129 completions on 205 attempts for 1,558 yards, 12 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Bronson Barron is back after getting some run. He played in six games, missing time due to injury, and finished 50/100 for 749 yards, six TDs, and five interceptions. Barron started at Weber State before transferring to WKU in 2023. In 2022 for the Wildcats, he passed for 2,529 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading Weber to the second round of the playoffs.
Defensive Outlook
The defense returns six of its top 12 tacklers from last season, including four of the top six. SUU brings back eight of its 18 players who logged at least 200 snaps in 2024, a unit that allowed 28.9 points per game.
Safety Kameron Rocha, defensive end Lando Brown, linebacker Mason Stromstad, and nickelback Raymon Crump are the top returners. Brown enjoyed an All-UAC Second Team season last year, totaling 47 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, and 10 QB hurries. Rocha was just ahead of him and finished No. 2 on the team with 50 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and three pass breakups. Stromstad added 38 stops and 2.5 TFLs. Crump totaled 35 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
Josh Dunn and Ricky Rich add experience at linebacker. Rich had 26 tackles and two TFLs, while Dunn registered 31 stops and three TFLs.
Baron Taylor tallied 30 tackles and two pass breakups from his safety spot last season. Joe Tongamoa adds some experience at defensive tackle, tallying eight stops in 2024.
Four D1 transfers with plenty of experience add to the mix.
Linebacker Sebastian Adamski was named to the 2024 All-Pioneer Football League First Team after leading Drake with 108 tackles, including eight TFLs and four pass breakups. Safety Blake Stillwell started a few games at Montana State in 2023 and tallied 39 tackles before missing most of last year with an injury.
From the FBS ranks, nickelback Lincoln Tuioti-Mariner arrives from Air Force. He played in nine games for the Falcons last year and had 50 tackles with 7.5 TFLs and two sacks. Seni Tuiaki comes in from Utah State. He started all 13 games in 2023 and finished with 25 stops and 3.5 TFLs. Last year, he had just one tackle.
SUU faces three Big Sky teams in its non-conference slate, a peek ahead to 2026 when the Thunderbirds return to the conference.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Southern Utah Football Schedule
8/30 vs Idaho State
9/6 at San Diego
9/13 vs No. 19 Northern Arizona
9/20 at No. 11 UC Davis
9/27 vs West Georgia
10/4 at No. 6 Tarleton State
10/18 vs No. 24 Abilene Christian
10/25 at Utah Tech
11/1 vs Austin Peay
11/8 at Eastern Kentucky
11/15 vs Central Arkansas
11/22 at North Alabama
Bold indicates UAC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
