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Stephen Covey estimates he's asked three to four times each week why his younger brother Britain — who could recite "Rise and Shout" by age 7, he estimates — didn't follow his example and sign with BYU.
By now he has the three-part answer down pat.
First: Utah believed in Covey more deeply. Both BYU and Utah had representatives at many of Timpview's games. BYU was interested. But Utah offered early, and BYU didn't until the 5-foot-8, 166-pounder attended its camp in the summer before his senior year.
"I just think they couldn't really see past the size," Stephen said.
Second: The Coveys felt BYU was more likely to make a true freshman earn his dues. Utah gave them "a strong sense that if you're one of the best players, you're going to see the field," Stephen said.
And third: Utah needed him more, thanks to the departures of Dres Anderson and Kaelin Clay.
Based roughly on that criteria, Covey's final two was actually Utah and Utah State, not BYU, with the Utes getting the edge because of their conference affiliation.
Still, the Covey clan has some "inner turmoil," Stephen admits. Immediate family will pull for Utah in Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl, though Covey's status is unknown after he sprained his ankle playing UCLA. Cousins "are a little more iffy. They want Brit to do well, but they don't know if they can get themselves to cheer for Utah."
Covey is one of a trio of Utes who played their prep ball at Timpview, just a two-mile drive from LaVell Edwards Stadium. Junior defensive end Pita Taumoepenu tied fellow junior Kylie Fitts for the team lead with six sacks in the regular season. Senior linebacker Jason Whittingham, son of Timpview head coach Cary and nephew of Utah head coach Kyle, has totaled 161 tackles since arriving as a little-heralded freshman in 2011.
But few Utes were more instrumental to Utah's success than Covey. He led the Utes in receptions (41), receiving yards (518) and receiving touchdowns (tied with senior Kenneth Scott and sophomore Harrison Handley, with four). He returned one punt for a touchdown, acted as decoy during another punt return touchdown and bounced off a half-dozen tackles as if suspended by a marionette during a 40-yard takeback against USC. Pro Football Focus rated him as the best true freshman wideout in the nation. And all that despite leaving the game in the first half against UCLA and missing the finale against Colorado.
Even Stephen — who said his diminutive little brother has defied expectations since middle school — was surprised to see him darting through piles of USC defenders and accelerating past Trojan defensive backs. Within the family, when they see things like that, they have a catchphrase now: "Oh my Gosh, that's such a Britty."
"I'm convinced now that he'll be able to do it in the NFL, too," Stephen said.
BYU's roster includes five former T-birds — among them senior defensive end Bronson Kaufusi, who leads the Cougars with 11 sacks. You're still more likely to see blue than red in the hallways of Timpview High. But Covey said he's noticed a number of Utah County people converting.
"It's a movement, I feel like," he said. Some of that, if accurately observed, may be due simply to Covey's outsize charisma. He wears giant bear claw slippers that he got in West Yellowstone. He quotes "Lion King" to describe Utah's feelings after a loss. And when the Vegas Bowl pairing was announced, Covey said, friends in Provo sent him "thousands of texts" saying "What the heck? What's going on?"
He'd hoped for a later bowl and a longer recovery period. Stephen said even he's not sure if his younger brother will play Saturday. Britain was tight-lipped with Stephen on the phone Sunday night. But Utah co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick called it "pretty obvious" that his offense is less explosive without Covey in it. Utah combined to score 29 points against UCLA and Colorado after having previously scored at least 24 in every game. And Covey said he'll have two years to heal when he leaves on an LDS mission — which Stephen expects him to do sometime in spring — indicating that he sees a low risk in playing.
Stephen knows that soon he'll be asked another question: Is Britain going to transfer to BYU after his mission?
The speculating has already begun. Stephen read a post Sunday night on a popular BYU fan message board that purported to relay the thoughts of their father, "totally just out of nowhere." Stephen also expects people to wonder if Bronco Mendenhall's move to Virginia means the new BYU coach will get another crack at Covey's allegiance. But for all the times his younger brother has surprised people before, "I just don't see any reason for him to consider something like that," Stephen said.
The reasoning is simpler, in this regard: Utah has been everything he'd hoped for, so far.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Las Vegas Bowl
P Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MST
TV • Ch. 4 —
Britain Covey
Vitals • 5-foot-8, 166 pounds, No. 18
High school • Led Timpview to three straight state championships, playing receiver as a sophomore and then going 26-0 with 100 touchdowns as a quarterback during his junior and senior years. Earned offers from BYU, Harvard and Utah State. Also played basketball.
Family • Is the grandson of "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" author Stephen R. Covey and the younger brother of former Timpview star quarterbacks Stephen and Christian.