With Dixie’s 2012 being one of its best in the last four years, there have been some new changes for the Red Storm to make the 2013 season even better.
Dixie is starting the season off with the addition of four recruits from Snow College.
Beginning his football career at Bear River High School in Grass Valley Calif., linebacker Garland Munns, a junior integrated studies major from Compton, Calif., was also on top for All-Western States Football League’s defensive team. Munns started every game for Snow during his sophomore season. He had nine tackles in Snow’s victory over third-ranked Advanced Software Analysis College of Excellence in the Carrier Dome Bowl that took place in New York.
Middle linebacker Nik Wolford, a sophomore business major from Draper, attended Alta High School, where he was a First-Team All-State recipient. He was one of the leaders in the state with 110 tackles his senior year.
Head coach Scott Brumfield said he tried to recruit Wolford straight out of high school, and now DSC has him on the team. Wolford attended Snow College, where he received first team in the All-Western States Football League as a sophomore. There he recorded 72 tackles, 10.5 for loss and five sacks.
Along with Wolford on the defense, Dixie has recruited defensive lineman R.J. Best, a junior integrated studies major from Ivins. Best started out at BYU and then went on to Snow College. There he was considered to be in one of the top defensive line groups in the nation.
Brumfield said he believes Best was a “big time” athlete to sign for Dixie.
And the fourth recruit, cornerback Zac Christian, a junior integrated studies major from Plain City, graduated from Fremont High School before attending Snow College. Christian was a team-leading corner for the WSFL. From there he recorded 12 pass breakups, and he led the team for interceptions.
The Red Storm recently announced their 2013 schedule, and they will be preparing for the season soon.
Brumfield has announced practice will be starting even earlier this year; the players will now arrive at 6 a.m. Along with the new practice time, there will be more intensity in the weight rooms.
“We’re really getting more into the mix,” said junior defensive lineman Tana Woodard, a criminal justice major from Honolulu. “We do more advance lifiting and it’s longer sessions.”
Dixie will start its spring training on Feb. 19, and the starting of spring season starts March 23. During that time Dixie will hold a scrimmage open to the public.
The Red Storm have five returning starters from last year’s 3-8 season, the first one being junior quarterback Griff Robles.
“I am excited to have him back because he already knows offense and has great relationships with these receivers,” said lineman K.J. Boyer, a junior integrated studies major from St. George.
Also coming back are receivers Mitch Frei and Randon Willard.
All-American tight end Joe Don Duncan is expected to return after taking a medical redshirt for the 2012 season.
“I think [Duncan] will change our offense and help us out a lot,” Woodard said.
Duncan’s brother, linebacker Jake Duncan, will also be returning.
DSC will start the season on Sept. 7 against an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Idaho State University.
“I feel like we are going to compete with them,” Boyer said.
Boyer said they can compete with everybody, and he is excited about playing a Division I school because it will show the team where they are at.
This will mark the first game played with an FBS team since Southern Utah University in 2011.
Following that game, Dixie will play Azusa Pacific University on Sept. 14 for it’s first Great Northwest Athletic Conference game.
This year Dixie will host Humboldt State for Homecoming. The year’s schedule will mark the first time since 2006 the Red Storm will close the regular season at home.
Season tickets will be available soon.
