Not after nearly slipping into a diabetic coma in the outskirts of Puerto Rico three years ago. Not after helplessly watching his baby sister battle leukemia last season.

Compared to those trials, proving he could defend a pass seemed a bit trivial to Hodgkiss.

Elevated to starting KAT safety in fall camp after Dustin Gabriel and David Tafuna were injured, Hodgkiss has made the transition appear seamless. The Dallas native has 28 tackles, four pass breakups and returned an interception for a touchdown in BYU's victory over Eastern Washington last weekend.

"I went out there with a chip on my shoulder and have been playing with an attitude to show everyone around the nation I deserve to be out there," Hodgkiss said. "I never thought of myself as a third-string guy, and I always knew I was capable."

Just getting on the field seemed like a long shot three years ago when Hodgkiss was lying in a hospital bed in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hodgkiss was on his LDS mission in Cidra, Puerto Rico, when he began having muscle spasms at night and was excessively thirsty during the day.

He lost 40 pounds in two months, but said he was so focused on his missionary work he didn't notice and thought he just needed to lift some weights.

But the mission president convinced Hodgkiss to see a doctor, and tests revealed Hodgkiss' blood sugar count was 650 (normal is 80-110). On the verge of a diabetic coma, Hodgkiss was rushed to the hospital, where he remained for two days.

Surrounded by dying patients, Hodgkiss listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a CD player to drown out the moaning from adjacent beds.

Once he was stabilized, he was flown back to Dallas. When the plane landed, his parents hardly recognized their son.

"He looked like a 13-year-old kid," his mother Leslie said. "He had no muscle in his chest or arms. It was very scary to see him like that."

Hodgkiss spent 10 more days in the hospital as he gained strength and learned how to cope with his Type I diabetes diagnosis. But he was intent on getting back into a BYU uniform and onto the field.

The pre-med student assured BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall he could manage his condition and returned to campus within three months.

Hodgkiss wears an insulin pump off the field to stabilize his blood sugar level, but can't wear it on the field because of the contact involved.

A student trainer remains nearby Hodgkiss at every practice with his glucose measuring kit, glucose tablets and a bottle of Powerade in case he begins feeling sluggish.

During halftime of games, Hodgkiss gives himself an insulin shot and may munch on a PowerBar.

"The good thing about Corby is he understands it and manages it well," BYU head football trainer Kevin Morris said. "He is pretty on top of things with his diet and makes us aware if anything is wrong."

Although it requires strict attention to detail just to get through a game, Hodgkiss compares his diabetes to a slow player trying to get faster.

"Everybody goes through something to be able to compete at this level, and mine just happens to be a disease," he said. "It's not always easy to control, but it has become a lifestyle for me."

After finally earning more playing time as a sophomore, Hodgkiss was dealt a double blow last season. Shoulder surgery hindered him physically and his sister's leukemia wiped him out emotionally.

The baby of the seven-sibling clan, Hailey Hodgkiss was just 14 when she was diagnosed with the cancer.

"It's one of those things where you just want to take it from her," said Corby, his voice still cracking. "You don't want her going through what she's going through and you feel so helpless because you can't do anything. I was always worried the next phone call I would get from my parents was that she had only one week to live."

But Hailey's cancer is now in remission, and she dreams of following in her big brother's footsteps and attending BYU by earning the Gordon B. Hinckley Presidential Scholarship.

After so many dark days, Corby is grateful his family "can see the light at the end of the tunnel." Although his own struggles would be enough motivation, Corby views his sister as inspiration to make the most of his final season in a BYU uniform.

"I think my life is hard or I have a tough day at practice and I can immediately be humbled when I talk to her," he said. "She has such a great outlook on life and is such a great example to all of us."

rpotkey@sltrib.com

* Hodgkiss: 28 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 interception returned 39 yards for a touchdown.

* Gabriel: 20 tackles, 0 pass breakups, 1 interception returned 38 yards for a touchdown.

* Utah at Colorado St.: Sat., 3:30 p.m., mtn.

* Weber St. at Portland St.: Sat., 3:30 p.m.

* SUU at North Dakota St.: Sat., 1 p.m.