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Provo • Marcus Mathews was sitting in the BYU football locker room one day last spring when offensive coordinator Robert Anae approached and said he wanted Mathews, a freshman receiver who barely weighed 200 pounds, to start practicing with the tight ends the remainder of spring camp.

"So that was that," Mathews said. "I was shocked, but I was like, 'Yes, sir.'"

The move seemed strange, considering that the Cougars were supposed to be loaded with young, talented tight ends, including fellow freshmen Devin Mahina, Austin Holt, Richard Wilson and Mike Muehlmann. At 6-foot-5, Mathews has the height for it. But he's short on bulk.

"I am willing to do whatever they ask," said the product of Southridge High in Beaverton, Ore. "If they would have stuck me at fullback, which I wouldn't advise, I would have done it."

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Tuesday that getting the tight ends more involved in the offense "has been a point of emphasis" in practice the past few weeks, and that Mathews "right now is doing the best job" among the tight ends.

"But the first thing is they have to be open, and they have to work harder in their [position] mastery and their route running to create separation from whomever is covering them," Mendenhall said.

The tight ends have combined to catch just 18 passes in eight games so far, and are still without a touchdown catch. Mathews has seven catches, while Muehlmann has four. Mahina and Wilson have three apiece, and Holt has one.

Mendenhall's praise "makes me feel good, but I can't get complacent," said Mathews, who went on an LDS Church mission to Sweden directly out of high school. "I have had that happen to me in the past, where I think I am the guy — then I slack off. That's the last thing our team needs right now."

Mathews has been one of the last guys off the practice field the last few weeks, and he's been arriving early to catch balls from a machine that spits them out at a rapid pace.

"I am doing all that I can, because this team needs something," he said. "I have to get prepared to be that guy, because if the opportunity comes, I have to be that guy."

Mathews said he's trying to put on weight so he can be more versatile and play in more situations, such as when the Cougars are running the ball in two-tight end sets.

"But it is hard to put on weight during the season," he said. "I was at 210 at one point, but I broke my leg and lost some weight. I want to get to 225 by next season. That's the goal."

Injury update

Trainer Kevin Morris said linebacker Jordan Pendleton (knee strain) did some light practicing Wednesday and will be a game-time decision. Linebacker Brandon Ogletree (ankle) played in the team sessions Wednesday and has been upgraded to probable.

Sophomore backup offensive tackle Walter Kahaiali'i had his knee scoped during the bye week and will be out two-to-four weeks.

Receiver McKay Jacobson (knee) has practiced all week and will play against UNLV.

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay