Almost every day after practice, it's the same thing. Utah's Eric Weddle takes a cell phone from an athletic department official and settles in to conduct however many interviews have been requested from radio stations, newspapers and magazines all over the country. Sometimes, he lays down on the field after his teammates are long gone, plucking at the grass and rolling his eyes playfully at the same questions he has answered a thousand times. At least once, he held the phone with one hand and played catch with teammate Casey Evans using the other - never dropping the ball, of course. In other words? He makes it all look so easy.
Having started the season as his team's best player on defense, Weddle is finishing it - and his standout career - as its best player on offense, as well. Add to that his special teams duties, and he's unquestionably one of the most versatile players in the country.
"He has done so much for us this year," coach Kyle Whittingham said.
The Utes no doubt will use Weddle extensively in every capacity when they attempt to beat rival Brigham Young for the fifth straight season at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, lending credence to Whittingham's suggestion that he might just be the best all-around player to ever don the drum-and-feather.
That's saying something, too, considering the Utes have sent dozens of players on to pro careers over the years - including quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft two years ago. But Whittingham maintains that Weddle would be the best player in the Mountain West Conference at whatever position the Utes would have played him full-time.
Which begs the question: Is Weddle destined for NFL stardom, too?
"In my opinion, he's going to be a tremendous prospect," Whittingham said. "From what I see, I'd be surprised if he's not playing for a lot of years in that league."
Most early scouting reports label Weddle as among the top dozen or so defensive back prospects in the country, though he acknowledged that many teams are uncertain whether he'd be suited more to play cornerback or safety.
His speed is the big question. If he can prove he has enough - say, by running about a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine next spring - he could convince teams that he has what it takes to do either.
"If I can run good times and do all the other stuff well, which I think I can, then I think I have a good shot to have a good chance," he said.
Weddle has little doubt that despite some damaging lapses in man-to-man pass coverage that resulted in touchdowns - the result of trying too hard to do too much, he said - he has only improved his draft stock with the season he has enjoyed with such apparent effortlessness. He's the fourth-leading tackler on the team, ranks eighth nationally with six interceptions, and has scored seven touchdowns - two on interception returns, one on a fumble return and four on offense.
"He makes more plays than anybody I've ever seen," Evans marveled. "I look at everybody in the nation, and I can't really pick a player that I think makes as many plays as he does."
Want to put a number on it?
Try 90.
That's how many plays Weddle ran in a 17-14 victory at Air Force last weekend. He was in the game for all 63 defensive snaps, ran a season-high 14 plays on offense, held for three kicks - including the game-winning field goal - and was on the field for six punt or kick returns and all four of the Falcons' attempts of field goals and extra points.
So not only did Weddle make eight tackles to help hold the Falcons to 116 rushing yards, but he also led the Utes with 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a dozen carries.
"I told him after the game, 'They're cheating you, son. They ought to be giving you two scholarships.' " Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said.
No doubt about it.
The Utes would be lost without Weddle, who has been a starter since he was a true freshman, playing both cornerback and safety before acquiring his role in the offense about this time last season.
The coaches limited that role earlier in the season, when they worried about putting too much on his plate. But since backup running back Mike Liti suffered a season-ending injury three weeks ago to deplete an already mediocre running game, Weddle has watched his jobs multiply.
"I love it," he said.
Still, his hallmark and home is on defense, and Weddle is hoping he can enjoy his final two college games - against the Cougars and in a bowl game - the same way he enjoyed the back end of last season, when he shut down every receiver that dared come his way, making it look easy all the while.
"It's kind of weird," he said. "I haven't really looked at that too much. I'm not a guy that looks back on it too much. I like to stay the course and look who our next opponent is. But after the season, I'll look back on my career, and hopefully, it was a good one and people look at me as a good football player and a good leader on this team."
Fittingly, that looks like it will be pretty easy to do.
mcl@sltrib.com
Lights Out
* Eric Weddle's six interceptions this season rank eighth nationally.
* His 17 career interceptions are tied for first among active players with Duke's John Talley, and tied for second on the Utes' career list with LaVon Edwards (1988-91).
* His seven touchdowns (two on INTs, one on fumble return, four on offense) are tied with QB Brett Ratliff and WR Brett Casteel for the team lead.
* Has played cornerback, safety, nickelback, quarterback, punt returner, punter, holder on field goals, and kickoff special teams in four seasons with the Utes.
* 2005 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and 2005 Emerald Bowl Defensive MVP.
* Member of 2004 team that went undefeated and won Fiesta Bowl.
