Timpview High School in Provo has been thought of as a breeding ground for BYU football over the last decade, with several notable Cougar players having played their high school ball there. However, there is a new coach in charge that could change some of the luxury BYU has enjoyed.
Cary Wittingham, the brother of University of Utah coach Kyle Wittingham, will lead Timpview High School’s football program into the 2012 season. With his brother coaching Utah, and Cary’s son Jason playing linebacker for the Utes, the question of whether more recruits will begin to go to Utah has surfaced.
During the past few years, BYU has not recruited as many players from Timpview, and that number will probably not increase over the next few years.
“That’s been going on as part of the normal process,” Cary said. “Most recently in the past few years the recruits have gone to Utah.”
With two great football programs, recruits will most likely stay split between the Cougars and the Utes.
Currently 10 Timpview players are on the Cougars’ roster for the 2012 season: Running back Michael Alisa, Offensive Lineman Famika Anae, Linebacker Kevan Bills, Tight End Trevor Brown, Tight End Colby Jorgensen, Defensive Lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna, Offensive Lineman Houston Reynolds, Offensive Lineman Corbin Kaufusi, Linebacker Creed Richardson and Running Back Levi Te’o.
Only three Timpview players are on the Utah roster for the 2012 season: Offensive Lineman Kalvin Cusick, and Linebackers Ofa Latu and Jason Whittingham.
Three notable players from Timpview also went on to play in the NFL. Center Lance Reynolds played for the Seattle Seahawks and Quarterback Bret Engemann played for the Oakland Raiders. In addition, Offensive Tackle Matt Reynolds recently signed with the Carolina Panthers. All three spent their college years at BYU.
“I see it continuing that some will go to BYU and some to Utah, it really depends on what is the best situation for each individual player,” Cary said.
Most in-state recruits end up going to BYU, but there may be an increase to Utah in the future.
Cary Wittingham explained that since Kyle has been at Utah it has naturally progressed to be easy to cheer for Utah, but BYU will always have a place in their family. Cary’s son Jason is on the Utah team.
“There is always a connection to BYU since that is where we went to school and played,” Cary said.
Both Kyle and Cary Wittingham played football for BYU. Kyle was hired on as the Utah coach at the end of the 2004 season and has led the team to success in the Mountain West Conference, and helped the Utes through the transition to being a member of the Pac-12. The in-state rivalry that has existed between the two schools has been slightly diminished with no more conference title, for which to compete with the two schools, as BYU has gone independent in addition to Utah’s conference change.
Summer training has already started as the team prepares to play Alta, West Lake and Lone Peak High Schools for their first three games.
“I’m excited to be with Timpview and lead them from this point forward,” Cary said. “I believe we will do well.”
