Utah's Mr. Everything: U.'s Weddle is one of nation's top defenders

Eric Weddle was hardly recruited as senior at Alta Loma High in California. For some unknown reason, the Pac-10 schools that were recruiting him the year before dropped off, leaving him with few options.

Current Ute head coach Kyle Whittingham couldn't understand why, yet was thrilled to recruit Weddle to Utah, where Urban Meyer was taking over the program. When the recruits were announced in February of 2003, the ones getting the most attention were Mike Liti, Kyle Brady, Joe Johnson, Tony Castaldi, Joe Jiannoni and receiver Thomas Huff, whom Meyer called the "frosting" on the recruiting class.

Weddle? Practically an afterthought. He was a 5-11, 185-pounder without a real position after playing receiver, running back, quarterback and safety in high school. He was expected to redshirt his first season.

Just look where Weddle is now.

Weddle became a starter in the Ute secondary by his fourth game as a true freshman and was named to two freshman all-America teams. The next year he was a second-team all-Mountain West Conference choice and last year earned MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

This year he very well could be on his way to first-team all-America status. He's currently second in the nation in interceptions with five, an average of one per game.

Two weeks ago after almost single-handedly defeating San Diego State with three interceptions, including two for touchdowns and running for another from the quarterback position, Weddle earned National Player of the Week honors. Then last week, while the Utes were getting blasted by Boise State, Weddle was one of the few Ute bright spots with two more interceptions.

For his outstanding play in September, Weddle is the Deseret Morning News Athlete of the Month.

Weddle hopes October will be just as productive for him and his team, beginning tonight when the Utes take on TCU in a big MWC game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

However, the Horned Frogs may opt to stay away from Weddle as much as possible just like Utah's first three opponents did when Weddle hardly saw a ball thrown in his direction.

Weddle is back at the cornerback spot after playing safety most of the last two years and the first two games this year. But after an injury to starting cornerback Shaun Harper, Ute coaches decided to switch Weddle back to corner, where he has thrived.

"From the first game he played here, he's been a fixture in the secondary," said Whittingham. "Every year we try to get him freed up to play safety, but every year he seems to gravitate back to corner. He's just too valuable of a commodity."