Las Vegas » The most-decorated running back, and leading rusher, in BYU football history is 22 years old, lives in the basement of his parents' modest Orem home, drives a slightly beat-up 2006 Mazda 6 "that gets me from A to B," and is just a class or two and an internship away from earning his degree in recreation management.

He's big, strong, healthy and remarkably nimble and fast for a man his size. And he's in the middle of watching former BYU receiver Austin Collie have remarkable success after deciding to leave a year early at this time a year ago.

Sounds like a guy who is just one bowl game away from declaring for the NFL draft, doesn't it?

But BYU's Harvey Unga is just a junior, and despite all the signs that point to him forgoing his senior season for the riches of professional football, Unga says it's not an open-and-shut case. Far from it.

"I honestly don't know yet," Unga said

In fact, Unga says he really hasn't thought about it that much, preferring instead to focus on what could be his last game as a Cougar -- Tuesday's Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State (6 p.m. MST, ESPN) at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"There's an evaluation request [from the NFL's College Advisory Committee] that I guess juniors or underclassmen can ask for," Unga said. "But I haven't even gotten to any of that stuff yet. People ask and stuff, but I think everything will fall into place when it does. As for now, I just want to go win this game."

If there is a take-one-day-at-a-time guy on a BYU team full of players with half their lives already mapped out, it is Unga, who recently became the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,384 yards, passing Curtis Brown. Asked what the determining factors will be in his decision, he shrugs.

"Honestly, I haven't even looked into that yet," he said. "I don't know -- a lot of prayer, I guess. And then a lot of thought about what I think will be best for me."

While the NFL's evaluation will give Unga a good idea of whether or not he will be drafted, and in which arounds, it won't be made public. The Tribune contacted three agents or NFL scouts this week, all of whom asked to remain anonymous, and asked about Unga's prospects.

Most see him taken in the middle rounds, as Collie was (fourth), and most put him among the top 10-15 backs in the draft, depending on what other underclassmen leave early. "If there's concern, it's his durability," said one. "He's been hurt a lot."

Collie's success "gives hope to those who decide to come out early, or whatnot," said Unga, who has had hamstring issues, a broken finger, sprained ankles, shoulder stingers and various other ailments.

But the former Timpview High star talks at times as if he's leaning toward staying.

"I have always been focused on coming back, and have another fun year with these guys, and then taking it from there," he said, when asked if people are advising him to leave early. "No one important has actually told me anything yet."

Suspecting that Unga's status would become an issue, coach Bronco Mendenhall said he asked offensive coordinator Robert Anae to meet with Unga and work with him on the decision. Anae said they have met once already and his advice was simple.

"My main piece of advice to Harvey is he has to circle himself with those that he trusts -- those that love him the most and care for him the most," Anae said. "That's where the heart and core of that decision has to come from -- his family members. He has relatives that played in the NFL and have a lot of experience, and he will be leaning on their advice as well."

Anae has discussed Unga's draft prospects with NFL personnel, but declined to comment on specifics.

"The consequence of his decision, he will have to live with," Anae said. "It is not going to be some other guy, it is not going to be some other factions. The people that have to live with the consequence of that decision will be him and those closest to him."

Friday was the deadline to apply for evaluation, although players can request evaluation until Jan. 4, 2010, knowing they are not guaranteed a response. The deadline to declare is Jan. 15, 2010, but players have a 72-hour window after that to withdraw.

"I am just excited to go watch the shows [in Las Vegas] and stuff, and worry about what I am going to eat at the buffet. That's kind of where I am at right now," Unga said. "When the time comes, rather than worry about it now, is when I will start worrying about it."

drew@sltrib.com