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Do-it-all player Eric Weddle will become the second of Morgan Scalley's Utah teammates to earn a spot in Utah's Ring of Honor.
The star safety will have his name forever enshrined on the west side of Rice-Eccles Stadium at halftime of Saturday's game against Arkansas, joining quarterback — and teammate — Alex Smith , receiver Roy Jefferson and coach Ron McBride.
Since the introduction of the Ring of Honor in 2024, Weddle was near the top of the list of candidates for the accolade. Per the school, each inductee must meet at least one of the criterion, which includes "owning school records, being a consensus All-American, playing 10 or more years in the NFL and coaching a team to at least two conference championships, among others." In addition, each Ring of Honor inductee must have been inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame and either graduated from a four-year institution or attended Utah for at least three years.
Weddle passes those marks with flying colors.
During his stellar four-season career at Utah, Weddle was a key player on Utah's undefeated 2004 team, earned consensus All-America honors in 2006, and enjoyed a successful 14-season NFL career . His name stands alone for most fumbles caused in a season (9) and he is tied with Erroll Tucker for most interception return touchdowns in a game (2).
"Eric was one of those that the minute he arrived, he had a very high football IQ, very quick feet, unbelievable athlete, but just an awesome guy and so deserving of this honor," Scalley said. "You look at what he's done — on the field speaks for itself, but off the field, the amount of lives he's blessed in service and the father that he is and how he represents this university. Man, I couldn't be more excited for him to be here and get that honor."
From his freshman season, it was evident that the under-recruited kid from Alta Loma High in Rancho Cucamonga, California, was going to be a special talent.
Coach Urban Meyer , who was on the ascent in the college football world when he arrived in Salt Lake City in 2003, and defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham couldn't keep Weddle off the field after his performance in fall camp.
In his first season at Utah, Weddle started at cornerback, leading the team in interceptions (3) and forcing a Mountain West Conference-high four fumbles as the Utes went 10-2 and won an outright conference football championship for the first time since 1957.
That team, with Weddle a key player, kickstarted the rise of the Utah football program, which went from a national also-ran to a two-time Power Five champion over the course of the next 20 years.
The next season, with a cast of returning starters, including Smith, receiver Paris Warren, Weddle and Scalley, Utah became the first team from a non-automatic-qualifying conference to crash the Bowl Championship Series party after going 11-0 in the regular season. Weddle was moved to a successful safety pairing with Morgan Scalley and played a pivotal part in that season, picking off four passes while also being the team's primary punt returner, fielding 20 punts for 210 yards.
Eric Weddle celebrates tackle of Pitt's Tyler Palko at Fiesta Bowl. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Morning News
In the Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh , Weddle led the team in tackles with 11 and also recorded a pass breakup as Utah polished off a perfect season in a 35-7 win.
That 2004 season with the dual roles set up the rest of Weddle's collegiate career, including a senior season that led Deseret News columnist Doug Robinson toadvocate for Weddle to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy.
Recognizing Weddle's talent, new head coach Whittingham kept him on the punt return team, but increased his role elsewhere, giving him seven carries for 35 yards and a touchdown in 2005.
"He is the most instinctive player I think I've ever coached — as far as just sheer reactionary ability and being able to see things even before they develop," Whittingham said in 2005. "He's just got that sense to sort things out."
In Weddle's senior season in 2006, Whittingham gave him the green light to be a do-it-all player, producing one of the greatest individual campaigns in Utah history. In addition to being a full-time starting safety (65 tackles, seven interceptions, two pick-sixes and a fumble return for a touchdown), Weddle did a little bit of everything.
Weddle rushed for 203 yards and five scores on 44 carries, returned eight punts for 44 yards, completed two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, and, if that wasn't enough, held the ball for field goals and extra points.
"He is the most instinctive player I think I've ever coached — as far as just sheer reactionary ability and being able to see things even before they develop. He's just got that sense to sort things out."
Perhaps the most absurd illustration of Weddle's powers in 2006 was the time he scored on two consecutive plays from scrimmage against San Diego State. In the second quarter, Weddle found pay dirt on offense on a two-yard touchdown run. On the Aztecs' ensuing play, Weddle picked off SDSU quarterback Darren Mougey and ran it 30 yards to the end zone to put Utah up 21-7.
Weddle finished the 38-7 win with one of the craziest stat lines ever recorded by a Ute — three interceptions, two of which went for touchdowns, four tackles, one pass breakup and 11 rushing yards and one touchdown on offense.
Though he drew headlines for his play on offense, his standout defensive performances drew the eyes of NFL scouts.
Weddle was taken with the 37th pick in NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, and his football IQ, athleticism, talent and tenacious work ethic fueled him to a 14-year pro career that included two first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team All-Pro selections and six Pro Bowl appearances.
San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) laughs on the sidelines during game against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, in San Diego. | DENIS POROY
Two years after he retired in 2019, Weddle came back for the Los Angeles Rams ' Super Bowl run — a testament for how well he kept himself in shape. Incredibly, after two years away from the game, Weddle played in all four of the Rams' playoff games and not only started the conference championship and Super Bowl games, but wore the "green dot," communicating the defensive calls to the rest of the team.
Weddle registered nine tackles and a tackle for loss in the conference championship win over San Francisco and five tackles in the Super Bowl win over Cincinnati .
Improbably, Weddle capped his career with the one accolade he was missing — Super Bowl champion — in a storybook ending to his football career.
Saturday's Ring of Honor ceremony will not only celebrate one of the most memorable players from one of the best eras of University of Utah football, but will also mark a full-circle moment.
Scalley, Weddle's teammate, is now head coach of the Utes. Incredibly, Weddle's safety coach, Derrick Odum, is back at Utah in the same position.
Scalley and Weddle have remained close friends and confidants, with Scalley taking Weddle's advice to take a look at former Baltimore Ravens strength coach Steve Saunders . Saunders is now in charge of the Utes' strength and conditioning and has received rave reviews from Utah's players.
And while Weddle's visit to Salt Lake City will be a celebratory affair, it also has a dual purpose.
Gaige Weddle, Eric's son and four-star safety prospect, will take the opportunity of being in town for the Ring of Honor to visit with Utah's program. Of course, Gaige is close with Scalley.
"Our relationship is tight. I've known him since I was a little kid so I was happy he got the job. I'm excited for this opportunity he's gotten. I talk to him and he said, 'The head coach job is exactly what I wanted, I love everything about it' and he's going to do a great job," Gaige Weddle told Rivals' Adam Gorney in July. "He brings a different culture to Utah than coach Whitt did and I'm excited to see the outcome of that this season."
Eric Weddle is Gaige's head coach at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego, where he's helped develop his son into one of the best prospects in the country. Rivals ranks Weddle as the No. 1 safety prospect in the nation and the No. 12 player nationally in the class of 2028.
Gaige, per Gorney, has included Utah in his top 3 along with Ohio State and Georgia.
On Saturday, Utah will celebrate its past as it unveils Eric Weddle's name in the Ring of Honor, but will also look to the future in recruiting his son.
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