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Stopping through with an eye toward Pima freshman free safety Markell Simmons, Utah's coaches asked if Pima had anything in the way of a potential Division I defensive end.
Sure do, said head coach Jim Monaco.
That'd be Kendall Huey, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound native of Tacoma, Wash., who flew somewhat under the radar due to an MCL injury in the second game of the season. Monaco said the sophomore recovered enough that he could have played, but he decided to keep him out so he could receive a medical hardship waiver and go to the next level with three years of eligibility.
Huey's production in those three games — or six quarters, to be exact?
Six-and-a-half sacks, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, Monaco said.
"He's been as good as we've ever had here."
With the loss of Hendricks Award winner and potential first-round draft pick Nate Orchard, Utah is in the market for an edge pass rusher, and when the U. offered, Monaco said, Huey jumped at it.
"Why wouldn't he? A top-20, Pac-12 team. Holy moley, that's a dream."
As for Simmons, Monaco believes he's Utah-bound, but it's a matter of whether he reports for fall camp or at the start of 2016 for spring ball.
The Phoenix product stands 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. As a freshman this year, he recorded 71 tackles and four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The question is whether he will be eligible to play in 2015, after taking a class with an institution that isn't cleared by the NCAA.
"He got some bad advice," Monaco said, adding that Simmons is applying for a waiver.
The Oregonian reported last week that Simmons had a visit planned to Corvallis on Jan. 30 and that he was weighing offers from Utah and Oregon State.
It doesn't hurt that Utah has an in with Pima — former Pima and Utah wideout Brian Hernandez currently works for Monaco as an assistant.
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The Tribune also caught up Tuesday night with American Fork lineman James Empey, who committed to Utah on Monday.
Empey chose the Utes even though he had an offer from Oregon State, destination of former Utah lead in-state recruiter Ilaisa Tuiaki and current American Fork teammate and best friend Zach Katoa.
Empey said of Utah's coaching departures over the break that with "the whole thing being flipped upside down, it was exciting," but that he built good relationships with Utah offensive line coach Jim Harding and Utah quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick, and "I knew that things were going to be alright and that whatever would happen, they'd always have good guys there."
Empey, like Katoa, plans to take a two-year LDS mission before suiting up for the U. He will receive his call in the next couple of months.
He said that even though his father, Mike, is a former BYU offensive lineman and coach, he grew up rooting for all in-state teams. Playing close to home, "that's a huge thing for me," he said. "Being close to my family, that was a big thing that Utah brought."
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The list of current Utah football commits that The Tribune has reported on includes:
(Click for details)
2015
2016
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper