Weddle was burned for a touchdown in one of his first games, but he soon became a key component on the Ute defense and led the 2003 team with four forced fumbles and three interceptions.

"Everybody has growing pains," said Scalley, "but the ones he went through were very quick."

Whittingham just smiles in thinking how far Weddle has come since he recruited him four years ago.

"Did I know he would turn out to be this good of a cornerback? I didn't know that. I knew he was a heck of a football player. But one of the premier corners in the country? I didn't know he'd evolve into that."

Weddle says, "heck no," when asked if he regrets not going to a Pac-10 school. Besides starring on the football field, in Utah he's made many friends, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and married Chanel Blaquiere last summer.

"I know I came here for a reason," he said. "It has worked out for the best for me, and I couldn't have asked for a better situation."

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Utes on the air

TCU (3-1, 0-1) at Utah (3-2, 1-0)

Thursday, 7 p.m.

Rice-Eccles Stadium

TV: Versus (Comcast 34; DirecTV 608; Dish 151)

Radio: 700AM

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E-mail: sor@desnews.com