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Provo • BYU senior receiver Devon Blackmon returns to Southern California on Saturday in hopes of finally getting that elusive first touchdown catch. To say the native of Fontana, Calif., about an hour's drive from the Rose Bowl, has come close would be an understatement.
"That's the second touchdown they've taken away from me," Blackmon said Wednesday, referring to a would-be 12-yard TD catch in Saturday's 35-24 win over Boise State that was nullified by an offensive pass-interference penalty, his own.
Last year, Blackmon had a touchdown nullified by a penalty early in the season, then never reached the end zone again. He finished with just 10 catches for 130 yards.
The one-time Oregon player has already surpassed those numbers in two games, having caught five passes for 43 yards against Nebraska and six for 105 against BSU.
But he still doesn't have a TD grab.
"I mean, I don't know if they like me up here yet," he said. "I just don't get it. I don't have a monkey on my back. I'm just going to go get the next one. … It just makes me hungry for the next one."
Blackmon and BSU's Donte Deayon, his boyhood friend from Summit High in Fontana, coincidentally, bumped into one another near the goal line and the call went against the Cougar.
"I don't think in the NFL they would have called that," he said. "I feel like it was a touchdown, to me."
As for returning home this week, Blackmon said "it means a lot" to him and that he will have "30-plus family members" in attendance.
"I want to give them a good show, playing in the Rose Bowl," he said. "The last time I was in the Rose Bowl was with Oregon when we played Wisconsin. This time, being there and playing, I gotta make some big plays."
Warner's brother commits to BYU • Troy Warner, the younger brother of starting BYU linebacker Fred Warner, announced via Twitter on Wednesday that he has committed to play football for BYU. A defensive back given four stars by most major recruiting websites, Troy Warner had previously committed to Oregon.
The prospect visited BYU last weekend and took in the Cougars' 35-24 win over Boise State. He also had offers from Stanford, Oregon, Notre Dame and UCLA, among others.
"Family Faith Football, the greatest things. With that, I'd like to announce my commitment to Brigham Young University," Warner noted on Twitter.
Twitter: @drewjay —
No. 19 BYU at No. 10 UCLA
O Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
TV • Fox Sports 1