Submitted by admin on Fri, 2005-10-07 15:00. ::
FORT HALL - One of the largest local rescue missions in recent history ended unsuccessfully Thursday when a Fort Hall man died after being pinned beneath a 2,500-pound pipe.
One of Mark Campbell's fondest memories takes place on a football field so many years ago. While meandering through a crop of youngsters turning out for youth football, Campbell conducted a quick inspection of the fidgeting fifth graders. As he moved around the group, another coach looked over at Campbell and said, ”Oh, Cole Nielson. When he goes pro, I'm going to be Cole's agent."
Meanwhile, after being passed on by colleges throughout the area, Jake Hutton didn't just make the team at Utah State, he fought his way to a starting position as a freshman walk-on.
On that field so many years ago, at a time when Hutton was a just wiry twig, Campbell easily picked his protégé out of the crowd. The coach saw a look in Hutton's eyes, and potential in his body.
Throughout the recruiting process, Hutton got looks from various schools. Idaho State, Boise State and Utah State all said they would love to take him as a walk-on. NAIA schools salivated over the opportunity to land a player with Hutton's potential.
But Hutton thought, what if? What if I walk-on to a Division I team and play? What if I walk-on and eventually earn a scholarship? What if I earn a starting spot?
”‘Jake, you have a lot of potential in your frame,'" Campbell said when they met to put together a weight program. ”I think you could be a big, strong kid. You've got the room to grow."
If you needed to find Jake during his senior year, look no further than a weight room. His mother, Jinni, said Jake worked out up to three times a day his final year of high school.
”He waited to go in January," Jinni said. ”He just wasn't ready to go. I just don't think he was mentally ready to go. His friends hadn't been settled to the point where they were ready to go, so we said, ‘Just stay home for this first semester.'"
Jake trained at home until January, and left for school. His career started with spring practice and a lot of uncertainty. After the 2004 season, head coach Mick Dennehy was fired.
With a new coach in Brent Guy and a different staff, Jake didn't know what to expect. But the new regime didn't care who was on scholarship and who played in the past.
They wanted kids who could make plays now. Jake made his mark quickly. Defensive coordinator Mark Johnson said he went into spring practice looking for kids who make plays. He found that in Jake.
By the time the season-opener against Utah in Salt Lake City came around, Hutton was in the starting lineup. He finished that game with six tackles and a forced fumble.
If you ask him to recall his stats from a particular game, he won't remember. He can, however, tell you exactly what happened on every tackle he missed.
People are always coming up to the Huttons and saying how impressed they are with Jake's accomplishments so far this season. But those who know Jake say they wouldn't expect anything less than the impression he's made with the Aggies.
”I'm really excited for him. He didn't get a lot of looks from a lot of different people," Highland coach Gino Mariani said. ”He had a goal of playing and, you know what, he went down there and proved that he can play, regardless of size and speed.
Campbell's first memory of Jake is the one he'll never forget. A small kid with passion blazing in his eyes. At Utah State, he's no longer the smallest kid on the field, but that passion burns brighter than ever.
Jake Hutton is second on the team in tackles with 26. He is also second on the team in tackles for loss with four. Here is a breakdown of his career to this point.
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