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Provo • Who is number three?

That was a common question at BYU's spring football camp last March, and again in August during preseason camp as a sure-handed but rather ordinary looking receiver made catch after catch in scrimmages and 11-on-11 drills.

Fans and reporters quickly learned that it was Colby Pearson, a walk-on from Blackfoot, Idaho, who joined the program in 2013 but appeared in only six games and didn't have a reception. Few expected the 6-foot, 190-pound Pearson to have much of an impact in 2014, either, because the Cougars had brought in four transfers — Jordan Leslie, Nick Kurtz, Devon Blackmon and Keanu Nelson — to bolster a receiving corps that already featured returnees Mitch Mathews, Ross Apo, Terenn Houk, Mitchell Juergens and Kurt Henderson.

But injuries have riddled receivers coach Guy Holliday's group, like almost every other position group on the team, and Pearson has found himself on the field, catching passes and making plays. He has seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown (against Central Florida), more receptions than Blackmon, Nelson, Henderson and even versatile running back Jamaal Williams through seven games.

"It was kind of tough, seeing all those new receivers coming in, but I used it as motivation," said Pearson, who hopes to be put on scholarship in January.

"My attitude was to welcome the competition, thinking it would only make me better."

Holliday said Pearson has taken advantage of the opportunity he's been given, especially with Blackmon (ankle) and Houk (neck) having been slowed by injuries at the inside receiver spot, and head coach Bronco Mendenhall said Pearson is another example of a walk-on who has persevered.

"No matter what setting out there on the practice field, he catches everything," Mendenhall said. "And so, man, you do that over and over again, and pretty soon you start throwing it to him more. And it is not necessarily plays designed for him — the quarterback starts wanting the ball to go there because he will catch it."

Friday night's game at Boise State is a big one for Pearson, because he grew up in Idaho cheering for the Broncos and attending lots of games at what is now called Albertsons Stadium. He played in a state championship game on the blue turf his sophomore season.

Several small schools offered him scholarships after he caught 77 passes for 1,246 yards and 22 touchdowns his senior year, but he had always dreamed of playing major college football, so he weighed preferred walk-on offers from Boise State and BYU before choosing the Cougars.

"I wasn't a huge BYU fan growing up," he said. "But if BYU played Utah, I would always cheer for BYU. I came to games as a little kid once in a while, so when Bronco called me and said we want you here in the 105 [players] for fall camp, I decided to give it a try."

So far, it has gone according to plan. Pearson opened the season with three catches for 47 yards against UConn with fellow Idahoan Taysom Hill delivering the ball, and Christian Stewart is looking for him more and more as well, as the UCF game showed.

"I really like it here," he said when asked if he's happy he chose BYU over Boise State. "I like the school. I love my teammates. It is a really different environment to play football in, and I like it a lot."

About Colby Pearson

• Sophomore from Blackfoot, Idaho, accepted a preferred walk-on offer in 2013.

• Has seven receptions for 82 yards and a TD this season.

• Played in six games as a freshman.

• Had 77 catches for 1,246 yards and 22 TDs his senior season at Blackfoot High. —

BYU at Boise State

O Friday, 7 p.m.

TV • ESPN