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Provo • J.D. Falslev is used to the doubters. He's heard them throughout his athletic career.

It's an old story, really, an athlete thought too small for major college football motivated to prove the doubters wrong.

"I internalize that," said the 5-foot-8, 175-pound redshirt freshman, suddenly a key cog in the BYU's kick return game. "I think I've earned a little respect. I have a long ways to go, though."

It takes a certain mindset and a disregard for one's body to return kicks and punts. Falslev seeks that one crease, one crack in the kick coverage. Then, it's a burst to daylight, sort of like when he is rumbling through Provo Canyon on his Harley Davidson FXR Super Glide.

Falslev had a taste of success in the loss to Utah State. With his first-ever return, the former Logan prep standout set up a Cougar scoring drive with a return to the BYU 46-yard line.

It was a brief taste of what Falslev hopes to provide the Cougars (3-5), who plays UNLV (1-7) noon Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

"Its fun," Falslev said of the pressure of returning kicks. "Especially punt returns. It's a whole mindset, when you settle under punts. All the nerves go away and you rock 'n roll.

"If you think about what moves you are going to make, you're never going to make them."

Entering 2010, the redshirt freshman, who owns a 7.7 punt return average and a 23.4 average on kickoffs, was not seen as a mainstay on return teams. The dismissal of junior O'Neill Chambers midway through October provided the opening.

So, Falslev, an all-state performer at Sky View High, was inserted into the mix with McKay Jacobson, Cody Hoffman and J.J. DiLuigi.

"Our kick returns have been very good," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said.

The Cougars coaching staff knew what they were getting in the multi-skilled player, having had seen Falslev perform in BYU summer football camps.

During his final two years at Sky View, Falslev compiled 2,487 yards rushing and receiving, while scoring 21 touchdowns.

"He has a drive to be good," BYU special teams coach Patrick Higgins said.

Certainly, self-trust is a large component for any successful kick returner, especially when dealing with the oncoming crush of bodies whose sights are set on pounding the human target. —

J.D. Falslev file

• Became part of the BYU kick return rotation with the dismissal of O'Neill Chambers.

• Gained nearly 2,500 yard running and receiving with 21 touchdowns at Sky View High.

• His first kick return at BYU set up a score against Utah State. —

UNLV at BYU

P Saturday, noon

TV • The Mtn.