It’s been nearly two months since the end of the football season, and there’s been many notable developments in that time. From signings to transfers to rumors, here is a rundown of some of the biggest stories for Southern Utah University football.
New signee involved in car wreck
Offensive lineman Elijah Ae, who signed with SUU out of Moorpark Junior College in December, was in a car crash that same month according to his family. The sophomore recently returned from a mission trip in South America.
“This past Sunday, Elijah was in a terrible car accident and was life flighted to the hospital,” said Ae’s mother online. “He has so many injuries and we are waiting for his stats to be better before three critical surgeries are performed. Though this is so horrific, my boy Elijah Ae is alive and fighting. He was alone and no others were injured.”
Ae, a new father to a baby girl, incurred multiple broken bones and internal bleeding. A GoFundMe campaign to cover his surgery costs has reached its goal of $25,000 and is accepting donations here.
Transfers
Following one of the top offensive seasons in school history, SUU will have to go into next year without two of their biggest offensive weapons. Wide receiver Shane Carr announced on Instagram that he’s committing to the University of Kentucky, while First Team All-American running back Joshua Dye is headed to the University of Mississippi.
SUU football fans will sorely miss both players. They accounted for 61.5% of SUU touchdowns last year and were both pillars of school spirit and the community. Southern Utah wishes both men the best as they head to big-name Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
Carr had more yards, yards per game, receptions and touchdowns than nearly every Kentucky receiver last year. He’s just one of many top transfers becoming a Wildcat, including national No. 2 interior offensive lineman Coleton Price and No. 3 offensive tackle Lance Heard.
Dye will get to prove himself on a team that made the Final Four this year. The Walter Payton Award finalist will compete for the starting job over fellow sophomore Kewan Lacy. Dye had been involved in rumors to sign with UCLA earlier this month but ultimately landed on Ole Miss.
It wasn’t all exits in the portal for SUU, though. Freshman wide receiver Lamason Waller III transferred to the Thunderbirds from Brigham Young University. The former three-star recruit didn’t appear in any games last year and will have four years of eligibility. He was a three-time All-American in high school.
Dye’s twin brother, Josiah Dye, has also entered the portal. On3 is currently predicting the sophomore safety will transfer to UCLA or Rutgers University.
Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Heather Turner