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SALT LAKE CITY — The stronghold for the BYU football program has slipped, perhaps by as much as half, maybe in part because the heated rival got promoted.
For years when it came to recruiting, the Cougars owned their backyard. The Utah football coaches usually conceded Utah County to BYU, assuming that most quality prospects would stay home.
In particular, the Utes didn’t spend much energy trying to get players out of Provo’s Timpview High. Players from the football factory usually walked down the street to BYU or went out of state.
Not anymore.
“It is changing,” said Timpview coach Cary Whittingham.
Pita Taumoepenu is the latest to leave the fold. The former Timpview defensive lineman recently switched his commitment from BYU to Utah.
Taumoepenu, who recorded 68 tackles and 25 sacks as a senior last year, originally pledged to BYU but changed his mind. NCAA eligibility issues will delay his participation until after this season.
“I got a call from him about a week ago and he just told me his plans had changed and he was not going on a (LDS Church) mission and he was interested in Utah,” Whittingham said. “I just provided him some phone numbers and he started making the moves from there.”
And another one got away.
We know what you’re thinking. The high school coach — who happens to be the brother of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham — steered Taumoepenu toward Salt Lake City. And with blood thicker than water, especially for the tight-knit Whittingham family, the Timpview coach will continue to push recruits toward his brother’s school.
Don’t go there. Cary Whittingham rejects any claim that puts his interests ahead of any players.
“Whatever the best situation is for the kids is what I would support,” he said. “Specifically with Pita, he had contacted me and told me his plans had changed and to help him along the way. I just provided him with phone numbers and he did all the work.”
Taking editorial liberty, it’s hard to believe a coach would be selfish enough or has enough influence to dictate a teenager’s school choice.
And that goes for a coach who played at BYU but has long since switched his allegiance to his brother’s program. It’s also worth noting that his son, Jason Whittingham, is a sophomore linebacker for the Utes.
It’s in Cary Whittingham’s best interest to remain as neutral as possible when it comes to recruiting his players. As coach of a football power, he would be foolish to cut off an excellent college program many in Utah County dream of joining.
But Cary Whittingham can see more of his players looking beyond BYU. With Utah now belonging to the Pac-12, a high school player from Utah would be foolish not to at least consider the Utes if there is mutual interest.
“It used to be completely BYU,” Cary Whittingham said of the Timpview players’ college preference, “and now I’d say it’s almost a 50-50 split. I don’t know that it means that it’s going to be a lock with any one school either way.”
There’s also the out-of-state factor. On several occasions, Pac-12 programs have come to Utah to pick off high school talent.
For example, former Timpview offensive lineman Xavier Su’a-Filo is entering his third season as a starter for UCLA. Several other programs in California, Arizona and Oregon also have Utah high school talent.
“The out-of-state schools in general are aware of what Utah has to offer,” Cary Whittingham said.
If Taumoepenu ends up with the Utes, apparently they are getting an outstanding player. Measuring 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he has the size and speed to be an impact linebacker and is an outstanding pass rusher.
Insufficient play at linebacker is among the reasons Utah stumbled to a 5-7 record last year, the first losing season in Kyle Whittingham’s eight years as Utah’s head coach.
His high school coach said Taumoepenu has good character and calls him a hard worker willing to do whatever he’s asked.
“He’s got a very high ceiling,” Cary Whittingham said. “I expect that he will continue to rapidly progress. With the kind of speed that he possess I would suspect they’re going to find immediate uses for him.”
