Red Mountain’s Lance Lawson commits to Southern Utah football

Jan. 8, 2018

Mesa Red Mountain senior athlete Lance Lawson gave Big Sky power Southern Utah a commitment on Monday evening to play football.

Lawson, who played with a high ankle sprain that didn’t allowed him to play at 100 percent all season, will play running back and slot receiver for the Thunderbirds, who shared the Big Sky Conference title this season with Weber State.

They went 9-2 and 7-1 in the conference. It was their second Big Sky title in three years.

He will take his official visit Jan. 26 in Cedar City.

“They had a lot of stuff we felt really comfortable with. The success they’ve had, winning the Big Sky two of the last three years, is impressive,” said Dave Lawson, Lance’s dad. “I think they’ve sent more people to the NFL in the last two or three years than ASU. We felt comfortable with them.”

Three Southern Utah players made NFL 53-man rosters to start this season.

“They have a great coaching staff, very successful the past few years, also successful in getting players to the NFL the last few years,” Lance Lawson said. “It’s kinda close to home, and just made me feel really comfortable.”

Lawson has a chance to play early for the Thunderbirds. He played some quarterback, running back, receiver and safety during a stellar high school school career that began as a freshman making an impact on varsity.

Aug. 15, 2017

Lance Lawson was getting dressed for football practice on Tuesday, when his father called him into the coaches’ office at Mesa Red Mountain.

There was mail for the senior, who plays running back, receiver and safety, to open. One from Kansas State and another from Arizona.

With offers only from three Big Sky schools, Lawson figured it was the usual form letters that athletes on a watch list get in the mail.

He opened up the UA letter “and was super shocked,” said Dave Lawson, Lance’s dad.

It was an official scholarship offer from the Wildcats.

“Other players in the locker room looked at him,” Dave Lawson said. “It was a good five-minute moment. He was very happy.”

It comes at a good time, as Lawson, an All-Arizona player last season when Red Mountain made a run to the semifinals, prepares for defending 6A champion Chandler on Friday.

“It truly feels like a dream come true,” Lance texted.

His written offer came a week after Gilbert Higley senior running back Draycen Hall got one from UA, Hall’s first Power 5 offer, as well. Hall was the Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year last season.

What do both players have in common?

They’re under 5-foot-10 and stood out at a summer camp held by UA.

“He went to camp at UA in June,” Dave Lawson said. “The area recruiter came to our school and talked to us. He said Lance was one of the kids they really liked and asked if he could go to their camp. He did very well at the camp. He impressed the OC a lot. The gave us a tour of the facilities and said they’d stay in contact. There was dialogue once or twice a month. Suddenly, the offer comes in the mail.”

It’s a relief for Lawson, who can stop worrying so much about the lack of major-college interest and just ball.

“We always felt he was a Power 5 type of player,” Dave said. “I’m not saying that he fits in every school. But it helps solidify things for him. He can take a deep breath and be like, ‘OK, I got it,’ and refocus on football and winning a state championship. You can only do what is in your control.”

Lawson, 5-9, 185 pounds, began his prep career as a quarterback on varsity and enters his senior season with 2,506 rushing yards and 38 career touchdowns.

Lawson will play safety this season, as well. That could end up being his position in college.

Before UA, his offers were from Montana, Southern Utah and Northern Colorado.

BORDOW: Lance Lawson bucks transfer trend

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