Provo » Senior linebacker Coleby Clawson forever will be known in BYU football lore as the Cougar who knocked Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford out of the game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, paving the way for a 14-13 upset of Oklahoma.

But to his teammates and coaches, Clawson was an inspirational figure in the program long before that.

"He is a pretty amazing guy," said defensive end Brett Denney. "We see him interact with his family and his little girl, and we all look up to him. It is pretty impressive, that he can balance all this football with his family life."

Not bad for a guy from the tiny central Utah town of Wales (population: 300) who couldn't crack the starting lineup of his Little League baseball team, according to his father, Karl Clawson.

For starters, the team leader in sacks is a Type 1 Diabetic, meaning that he has to monitor his blood sugar level during practices and games. When it gets too high, he gives himself a shot of insulin. When it gets too low, he drinks some orange juice.

"He's never once used [his Diabetes] as an excuse," his father said.

Nor did he let his small-town upbringing get in the way of his dreams to play football for BYU. Despite an all-state football career at North Sanpete High in Mount Pleasant, Clawson wasn't recruited, so he walked on at nearby Snow College and eventually became the Western States Football League Defensive Player of the year and an Academic All-American.

"It was definitely always a dream, but I am now soaking it all in, because it is a reality now," Clawson said. "I always dreamed about playing for BYU. I played it on my Xboxes and my Nintendos and stuff. But now that it is a reality, it is a lot of fun."

After an LDS Church mission to Indianapolis, Clawson married Breanna Hill. Last year, they welcomed a daughter, Chesni.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said shortly after meeting the Clawsons, he knew he wanted Coleby on his team.

"He wasn't really recruited out of junior college. I think he had one other scholarship offer, and that may have been to Idaho State," Mendenhall said. "He played defensive end in junior college. He was undersized. We have a position that kind of is a cross between an outside linebacker and a defensive end, and when I met Coleby and his wife for the first time [it sealed the deal]. We like kids that are still fighting and are scrapping to get an opportunity, because I think they are hungrier.

"We also like kids that are from rural communities. He is from a real small town, and knows how to work. I believe that showed on the football field in junior college, and I believed it would continue here, and so when many didn't see those things, we saw a great young man who had an outstanding faith, outstanding work ethic, with just enough ability ... so we took him because of that. I thought he would be a great fit for us, and this place."

Clawson started 11 games at outside linebacker in 2008, moving in when starter Vic So'oto broke his foot in the Washington game. He had four sacks, second on the team. Helper's Jan Jorgensen, also from a small town, had five.

Clawson had two more against UNLV last week to bring his 2009 total to three, but credited them to the defensive linemen for occupying blocks.

He is carrying close to a 3.7 GPA while balancing football, academics and a family.

"Life is really busy," he said. "I am in a pretty tough major [exercise science] and so [there is] a lot of homework, and a lot of things for school. Home life takes a lot of time, too, being able to spend time with my wife and my little girl. There are a lot of things going on with all these different things in my life. So it is a matter of making time for each thing."

drew@sltrib.com