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San Jose, Calif. • In a rivalry in which he's so outnumbered, Jordan Fogal has to find the small victories.
For instance: In the first weekend of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers had thudding debuts for 0-1 starts. But both Bay Area teams — including Fogal's beloved Oakland Raiders — had wins.
One of 11 Utes with Northern California ties on a team stacked with Southern California players, the junior defensive back relishes these details.
"NorCal, SoCal — I wouldn't say we don't get along but we're a lot different," he said "It's kind of two different states. It's a fun little rivalry."
While Utah heavily relies on recruits from Los Angeles and surrounding communities, the NorCal kids come into focus this week as the Utes visit San Jose State on Saturday night for the first road game of the season. Many players' families are driving out two hours or more to hunker down at CEFCU Stadium for the contest, in which Utah is a double-digit favorite.
But there's also going to be other trips on Friday night: Utah's coaches driving out into the area, hunting for talent. Northern California is quietly becoming important territory for the program. While many of the current roster of players from the area have yet to play key roles, it's conceivable that they could be a major part of the program in future years.
"We're actually building our rep up here," freshman offensive lineman Darrin Paulo said.
One thing most of the Northern California players have is youth: Seven are freshmen, and two others (Armand Shyne, Dimitri Salido) transferred in this year.
Utah has added focus to the area, but several of Utah's NorCal natives said a former player played as much of a role as any coach: Devontae Booker. When the Sacramento native landed with the Utes and started busting down Pac-12 defenses, the program gained cachet in the area.
In Fogal's words: "Book is known everywhere." His presence convinced others to take a second look at Utah, including Paulo and running back Marcel Manalo.
"Him being him and coming here, it definitely influenced a lot of people to come here," Manalo said. "They feel like, 'If he made it there, I can do it too.'"
At Grant High School in Sacramento, which produced both Booker and Paulo, coach Mike Alberghini says he's been pleased with how Utah has handled his players, dating back to Paris Warren in the early 2000s.
He also appreciates how the Utes have recruited over the years. Now his main contact is co-offensive coordinator Jim Harding, but Alberghini said a constant in all of Utah's coaches who have visited Grant has been a lack of saccharine recruiting bluster.
"Our community appreciates how Utah has taken care of kids when they've gotten there," he said. "They've got some straight shooters. A lot of people come through here, and Utah is one of the schools where you feel like what has been said is what is meant."
Among the Northern California crop, there aren't yet any starters. Paulo is the only one listed on the two-deep.
And yet, there are indications that among those are future contributors and possibly stars. Shyne may be among those getting carries in Saturday's game. Paulo and Capra have been in the two-deep during camp, and could be in the mix more next year when the Utes graduate a host of starters.Coach Kyle Whittingham has cited Leki Fotu (who was an in-state recruit, but hails from the Bay Area) as one of the most physically mature freshmen he's seen.
The future could bring in some more NorCal kids as well. The Utes are recruiting another Grant lineman, Orlando Umana, who played on the same line as Paulo two years ago (he's taking a Washington visit this weekend).
Count Fogal among those who are rooting for a few more recruits from the area. He needs all the reinforcements he can get.
"NorCal kids don't know much about Utah, but I think they're starting to," he said. "I'm glad I can open that door for other guys to come here."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Northern California Utes
Of the 40 Utes who come from the Golden State, 11 have ties to the Northern end of California and will be roughly on home turf this Saturday:
Johnny Capra, Fr., OL • Auburn (Placer HS)
Jordan Fogal, Jr., DB • San Leandro (Arroyo HS/College of San Mateo)
Leki Fotu, Fr., DT • San Leandro (San Leandro HS/Herriman HS)
Ken Hampel, Sr., TE • Mountain View (Mountain View HS)
Chad Hekking, Fr., TE • Vacaville (Vacaville HS)
Marcel Manalo, Fr., RB • Rio Linda (Rio Linda HS)
Darrin Paulo, Fr., OL • Sacramento (Grant HS)
Dimitri Salido, Jr., WR • Pleasant Hill (College Park HS/Diablo Valley College)
Armand Shyne, Soph., RB • Oakland (Skyline HS/American River College)
Justin Tatola, Fr., LB • South San Francisco (Junipero Serra HS)
Sam Whittingham, Fr., LB • Folsom (Folsom HS) —
Utah at San Jose State
At CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
Kickoff • 8:30 p.m. MDT
TV • CBS Sports Network
Radio • ESPN 700
Records • Utah (2-0); SJSU (1-1)
Series history • Utah leads 6-1
Last meeting • Sept. 25, 2010 at Utah; Utah 56, SJSU 3
About the Utes • Senior receiver Cory Butler-Byrd could see his first game action since last season after serving a two-game suspension to start the year. … Utah's pass efficiency defense is ranked No. 5 nationally (66.22), as well as the defense's yards per pass attempt (3.85). … The Utes are coming off a game in which they gave up six turnovers for the first time since playing UCLA in 2013.
About the Spartans • Utah running backs coach Dennis Erickson got one of his early gigs at San Jose State, serving as offensive coordinator from 1979 to 1981, helping the Spartans win a PCAA championship with a 9-3 record in his final year. … SJSU's last win over a Pac-12 team came in 2006, when the Spartans hosted Stanford and came away with a 35-34 victory. … SJSU is coming off a win over Portland State in which it put up 642 yards of total offense, good for No. 11 in school history.