Rumor is they didn't show very much love to Empey originally. Covey might be partially a factor of the family past history with Anae. If Covey goes elsewhere that's fine...he's tiny, but Empey to Yewtah would be a blow. OL is where the game is often won.
Several other Utah kids with byu family connections are already at Yewtah, like Hadley, Hansen, and ofegua. Being in the PAC12 certainly is a factor.