(UW Athletics release)
LARAMIE, Wyo. – A dynamic group of five high school playmakers joined the University of Wyoming Football program on Wednesday as they signed national letters of intent to play for the Cowboys. Three running backs, a defensive tackle and a linebacker were added to the 2019 Wyoming signing class.
Those individuals who became Cowboys included: Alphonzo Andrews Jr, a running back from St. Louis, Mo.; Alonzo Hall, a defensive tackle from Reseda, Calif.; Dawaiian McNeely, a running back from Ceres, Calif.; Shae Suiaunoa, a linebacker from Houston, Texas; and Titus Swen, a running back from Fort Worth, Texas.
“We’re really pleased that all five young men we were anticipating signing with us today did so. There were no surprises,” said Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl. “We feel like we’ve been able to address all the needs we have within our football team with these extra five individuals. This group of signees will certainly provide us depth at the running back position, on the defensive line and at linebacker. And while he didn’t sign today, we were able to pick up a quarterback at the start of this semester that added depth at that spot. I think we’ve closed out our signing class on a really high note.”
The five signees joined 19 future Cowboys, who either signed with the Pokes during the early signing period in December of 2018 or enrolled in school at UW for the 2019 spring semester. That brings the total number of players in the 2019 Wyoming recruiting class to 24 signees.
The five individuals who committed to Wyoming on Wednesday helped meet some specific needs in balancing out this year’s class. The three running backs were the first running backs signed by the Cowboys during this recruiting period. Defensive tackle Hall joined three other defensive lineman in the 2019 Wyoming recruiting class, and linebacker Suiaunoa became the third linebacker in the 2019 Wyoming class.
Wyoming now has 12 offensive players in its 2019 recruiting class and 12 defensive players. A breakdown of the number of signees by state includes: Wyoming (1), California (10), Illinois (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (2) and Texas (7).
Some of the highlights from this year’s class include:
∙Andrews Jr. earned Second Team All-State Class 3 honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association his senior season of 2018. He was ranked as the No. 32 overall recruit in the state of Missouri by 247 Sports, and he helped lead Trinity Catholic High to the 2018 Missouri Class 3 State Championship.
∙Hall was named to the 2018 Division I First Team Los Angeles All-City Football Team, and was named the Los Angeles Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year.
∙McNeely was named to the FrontRowPreps.com All-Region First Team for large schools as a running back his senior season. His Central Catholic team was ranked as the No. 1 team in Division II of the Sac-Joaquin Section in California by FrontRowPreps.com from the start of the season and advanced all the way to the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section Championship Game, finishing as the runner-up.
∙Suiaunoa was an outstanding dual-threat quarterback and all-around athlete at Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas. He is projected as a linebacker for the Cowboys. His junior season, Suiaunoa earned Second Team Class 6A District 24 honors at quarterback.
∙Swen entered his senior season ranked No. 42 on the Austin American-Statesman’s Hook’em.com ranking of the “2019 Fabulous 55” recruits in the state of Texas. His junior season, he was named the All-District 6-5A Co-Offensive Player of the Year by PigskinPrep.com.
∙All five of Wyoming’s new signees are rated three-star recruits by national recruiting sites.
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Hometown (Last School)
– Alphonzo Andrews Jr. RB 5-10 185 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. (Trinity Catholic)
– Alonzo Hall DT 6-5 230 Fr. Reseda, Calif. (Reseda)
– Dawaiian McNeely RB 6-2 206 Fr. Ceres, Calif. (Central Catholic)
– Shae Suiaunoa LB 6-3 200 Fr. Houston, Texas (Clear Lake)
– Titus Swen RB 5-11 190 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas (Eaton)
Alphonzo Andrews Jr. RB 5-10 185 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. (Trinity Catholic)
– Alphonzo Andrews Jr. earned Second Team All-State Class 3 honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association his senior season of 2018. He was rated a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247 Sports. He was ranked as the No. 32 overall recruit in the state of Missouri by 247 Sports. Andrews helped lead Trinity Catholic High to the 2018 Missouri Class 3 State Championship, as the Titans achieved a 13-2 overall record. In 2018, he rushed for 649 yards on 67 carries, averaged 9.7 yards per carry and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. On defense, he was credited with 44 tackles (31 solos and 13 assists), with 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Over his four-year career, Andrews accounted for 1,916 rushing yards and scored 31 rushing touchdowns, while also scoring two receiving TDs. He totalled 183 tackles (140 solos and 43 assists), 22.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception for his career. In the 2018 state playoffs, Trinity Catholic shutout Sumner (88-0) in the district round, posted a dominating 71-10 victory over McCluer South-Berkeley in the district semifinal, captured a convincing 39-6 victory over St. Charles West in the district championship, followed by a 27-17 win over Southern Boone in the state quarterfinals. In the state semifinals, Trinity Catholic defeated Maryville (36-14). Trinity High faced Cardinal Ritter in the Class 3A State Championship Game, and captured the state title by a score of 45-19. Andrews rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the state championship game. Trinity Catholic also played in the state championship game Andrews’ sophomore season, but lost. He played for head coach Terrence Curry. Andrews was also recruited by Air Force, Arkansas, BYU, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, New Mexico, Syracuse and Ivy League members Dartmouth and Yale.
Alonzo Hall DT 6-5 230 Fr. Reseda, Calif. (Reseda)
– Alonzo Hall was named to the 2018 Division I First Team Los Angeles All-City Football Team, and was named the Los Angeles Division I Defensive Lineman of the Year. He was rated a three-star recruit by both 247 Sports and Rivals. His senior season, he was credited with 67 tackles (25 solo tackles and 42 assists), 26.0 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, eight pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. On offense, he added 13 receptions for 226 yards and scored one receiving touchdown as a tight end. He led the Valley Mission Conference in sacks (15.5), ranked fourth in tackles (67) and sixth in receiving yards (226). As a junior, Hall recorded 94 tackles (28 solo tackles and 66 assists), 31.0 tackles for loss, 22.0 sacks, 20 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. As a receiver, he caught six passes for 95 yards and scored two receiving TDs his junior season. For his career, he totaled 161 tackles, including an amazing 57.0 tackles for loss, 37.5 sacks and 36 quarterback hurries. He added 10 career pass breakups, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Hall helped lead Reseda High School to a 10-2 overall record and a 5-1 conference mark in 2018 for a second-place finish in the Valley Mission Conference. Reseda High entered the CIF L.A. City Section Division I Playoffs as the No. 3 seed. Reseda High defeated Hamilton High 45-6 in the first round of the playoffs before losing, 24-14, to eventual L.A. City Section Champion San Pedro in the quarterfinals. He played for head football coach Alonso Arreola at Reseda High. Hall was also recruited by Arizona State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Iowa State, Louisville, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State and UNLV.
Dawaiian McNeely RB 6-2 206 Fr. Ceres, Calif. (Central Catholic)
– Dawaiian McNeely was named to the FrontRowPreps.com All-Region First Team for large schools as a running back his senior season. He was also selected the Valley Oak League’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. McNeely was rated as a three-star recruit by both Rivals and 247 Sports. His senior season, he rushed for 1,073 yards on 128 carries, averaged 8.4 yards per carry, recorded six 100-yard rushing games and scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He added 157 yards in kickoff returns, including returning one kickoff for a touchdown, totaled 1,232 all-purpose yards and scored 11 TDs his senior season. On defense, McNeely was credited with 35 tackles (24 solos and 11 assists), 1.0 tackle for loss and nine pass breakups. He helped lead Central Catholic High to an 11-2 record and the Valley Oak League Championship in 2018. The Raiders were ranked as the No. 1 team in Division II of the Sac-Joaquin Section by FrontRowPreps.com from the start of the season until they lost in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Championship Game. Central Catholic received a first round bye as the No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section. The Raiders then defeated Elk Grove, 49-7, in the sectional quarterfinals. Central Catholic captured a 31-30 victory over No. 3 ranked Inderkum in the semifinals, with McNeely breaking a big 80-yard TD run to help key the Raiders’ victory. Central Catholic fell in a close championship game to Del Oro by a score of 20-17. For his career, McNeely rushed for 1,388 yards, scored 15 rushing touchdowns, had 260 kickoff return yards, accounted for 1,707 all-purpose yards and scored 16 total TDs. His career defensive statistics included 64 total tackles (42 solos and 22 assists), 1.0 tackle for loss, 10 pass breakups and one interception. He played for head coach Roger Canepa. McNeely was also recruited by Arizona State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawai’i, Nevada, Oregon State, Tulane and Utah State.
Shae Suiaunoa LB 6-3 200 Fr. Houston, Texas (Clear Lake)
– Shae Suiaunoa was an outstanding dual-threat quarterback and all-around athlete at Clear Lake High School in Houston, Texas. He is projected as a linebacker for the Cowboys. He was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports. His senior season, Suiaunoa completed 79 of 148 passes for 1,020 yards and threw six TD passes. He also rushed for 437 yards on 96 carries and had two rushing TDs. Suiaunoa totaled 1,457 yards of total offense in 2018. He added eight receptions for 146 yards and caught one TD reception. He helped lead Clear Lake High to a 6-6 record and the Class 6A Division II playoffs as a senior. Clear Lake defeated Dawson, 28-14, in the Bi-District round before losing to Summer Creek, 28-19, in the Area round. His junior season, Suiaunoa earned Second Team Class 6A District 24 honors at quarterback. As a junior, Suiaunoa completed 160 of 266 passes for 2,270 yards and threw 23 TD passes. He rushed for 801 yards on 144 carries and scored eight rushing touchdowns. He accounted for 3,071 yards of total offense and was responsible for 31 TDs his junior season. Suiaunoa led Clear Lake to an 8-4 record and the Class 6A Division II playoffs. Clear Lake defeated George Ranch, 24-8, in the Bi-District round. The Falcons lost in the Area round to Kingwood, 38-30. His sophomore season, Suiaunoa passed for 1,703 yards, rushed for 504 yards, totalled 2,207 yards of total offense and was responsible for 11 touchdowns (10 passing and 1 rushing). He played for head coach Larry McRae. Suiaunoa was also recruited by Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Cincinnati, Hawai’i, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon State, SMU, Texas State, Tulane, UCLA, Utah, UTEP and UTSA.
Titus Swen RB 5-11 190 Fr. Fort Worth, Texas (Eaton)
– Titus Swen comes to Wyoming from Eaton High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He entered his senior season ranked No. 42 on the Austin American-Statesman’s Hook’em.com ranking of the “2019 Fabulous 55” recruits in the state of Texas. The Hook’em.com Fab 55 described Swen as a “bruising back.” He was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports. Over his three-year career at Eaton High, Swen rushed for 3,467 yards on 500 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and rushing for 44 touchdowns. He also caught 70 passes for 1,086 yards and scored nine TDs receiving. Adding in 195 yards in punt and kickoff returns, Swen concluded his high school career with 4,748 all-purpose yards and averaged 175.9 all-purpose yards per game. His junior season, he was named the All-District 6-5A Co-Offensive Player of the Year by PigskinPrep.com. Class 5A is the second largest classification in the state of Texas. He also earned Third Team All-State Class 5A honors as a junior in 2017, being named to the 67th Annual Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State team. As a sophomore, he was named his district’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year. His head football coach at Eaton High was Ellis Miller. Swen was also recruited by Arizona State, Kansas, San Diego State and SMU
