5A high school football playoffs: BYU has a connection to Bingham's players

SOUTH JORDAN — Baker Pritchard was the first Bingham player to verbally commit to BYU, and it wasn't long until teammates Moses Kaumatule, Manoa Pikula and Kesni Tausinga followed suit.

"With three of my best friends already there, I thought it would be the best decision," said Tausinga, the last to commit in February.

Before the quartet shifts focus from Bingham blue to BYU blue, the seniors have one piece of unfinished business remaining — winning another 5A state championship. All four will be in the starting lineup this Friday at Rice-Eccles Stadium when the Miners take on Region 1 champion Fremont.

Tausinga said as long as the Miners don't get a big head, they should be fine. Regardless of the outcome though, the foursome know this Friday won't be their last game together.

Not all of Bingham's top players will sign with BYU, but there's definitely been a pipeline of sorts from South Jordan to Provo in the past five or six years. It's not a coincidence.

"Our program kind of goes right along with their honor code down there. I know after this year a lot of people will question things that have happened, but I'll always try and make the best decision I can concerning the individuals and the program," said Bingham coach Dave Peck.

"They know when they get a Bingham kid down there they know they'll be good in the weight room already, and they've already been under some tighter leashes than normal high school kids," he said.

Bingham standouts who've committed to BYU in recent years include Jordan Pendleton, Austin Holt, Tuni Kanuch, Iona Pritchard and Remington Peck.

"Five or six years ago, BYU was the first one to come out and make a big push to offer our kids early, and I think that's where it all got started," said coach Peck. "They were grabbing our kids early before anybody else ever did."

Bingham's pipeline is strongest to BYU, but there are also numerous connections to Utah and Utah State. Peck said that next season, 25 Bingham graduates will be involved with the three big in-state schools (a list that will include kids on LDS missions).

Pikula believes Bingham's reputation for developing players was a big reason he received a scholarship offer from the Cougars.

"It's easy for college coaches to come here every year and get the same type of players," said Pikula, a linebacker who leads the Miners with 81 tackles this year.