A former Los Angeles police officer sought in Southern California shootings that have killed three people once played college football at a university in Cedar City, Utah.

Southern Utah University athletic and academic officials say Christopher Dorner had an unremarkable career as a reserve running back in 1999 and 2000.

University Relations Vice President Dean O'Driscoll says Dorner graduated in 2001 with a political science degree and a minor in psychology.

SUU athletics spokesman Neil Gardner recalls Dorner as polite, friendly and hard-working.

Dorner is now the focus of an intense manhunt in California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico.

He's suspected of launching a killing spree to punish those he blames for his 2008 dismissal from the LAPD.

Cedar City is off Interstate 15 about 170 miles northeast of Las Vegas.