From Deseret News archives:
Why not give Heisman to Utah's Eric Weddle?
There are no real head-turners out there this season, no Reggie Bushes or Vince Youngs, no one who really dazzled.
Troy Smith, the Ohio State quarterback, will likely win the award, but here's another idea: Instead of giving the trophy to the best running back or quarterback, why not break tradition and give it to the BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER?
Why not give the Heisman Trophy to Eric Weddle?
Weddle is the best all-around football player in the nation, period.
He is a gridiron sensation in the West. He gets more ink than Tom and Katie.
When is the last time you heard fans chanting a defensive back's name during a game (which is what they were doing in Rice Eccles Stadium on Saturday)? But of course Weddle is so much more than a defensive back.
Why not give the trophy to a guy who plays full-time cornerback/safety and part-time quarterback, punt returner and holder for field goals and extra points?
Why not give the Heisman to a guy who has scored three touchdowns on defense and four on offense?
"He should win the Heisman Trophy," Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said earlier this season. "I sincerely mean that."
So do I.
He has 58 tackles, 35 of them solo.
He has two fumble recoveries and returned one for a touchdown.
He has six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns.
He's rushed for 161 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries, or almost five yards per carry.
He's completed 2 of 4 passes for 43 yards, including a perfect, spiraling 18-yard touchdown pass that hit receiver Brent Casteel in stride against BYU on Saturday.
He's returned 7 punts for 40 yards.
He is Utah's third leading scorer, with 42 points.
The only people who spend more time on the field than Weddle each Saturday are referees. Against Air Force two weeks ago, Weddle played every snap on defense and collected eight tackles. On offense, he led the Utes in rushing with 73 yards and scored Utah's only two touchdowns. He also served as the holder for the game-winning field goal.
He played a total of 90 plays.
Afterward, Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry told him, "They're cheating you, son; they ought to give you two scholarships."
Ute coach Kyle Whittingham says Weddle might be the best all-around player ever to wear a Ute uniform, this at a school that has produced a long list of NFL stars. For that matter, Whittingham believes Weddle would be the best player in the Mountain West Conference at whatever position he played if he played it full time.
