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Provo • Veteran BYU receiver Mitch Mathews says he was a little bit concerned when he was told that a receiver from UTEP who had just one year of eligibility remaining was transferring into the program.
"Is he going to be selfish and not play for the team?" Mathews wondered aloud.
But so far, Jordan Leslie has been just the opposite, according to teammates. The 6-foot-3 senior from Houston has worked hard, learned the plays, and even mentored younger receivers.
"I have seen Jordan Leslie come in and be more of a part of this team than I have ever expected any guy coming in for one year to do," Mathews said. "He's representing BYU well on and off the field."
Quarterback Taysom Hill said Leslie, who caught two passes for 22 yards in the 35-10 win over UConn, has already set a big example for the younger receivers. He quickly grasped the up-tempo offense while learning two different receiver positions.
"I have been really impressed with him," Hill said. "He will come in and help us right away."
Although he is one of the most-accomplished students on the team — he graduated from UTEP in three years with a degree in electrical engineering and is enrolled in the Marriott Business School's Executive MPA program — Leslie was designated as a "newcomer" and wasn't allowed to speak to reporters until after he played in his first game, a 6-year-old BYU rule.
Monday, he talked about what his first three months in Provo have been like, and what it will be like to return to his home state this weekend when the Cougars (1-0) take on Texas (1-0) at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, about 165 miles from Houston.
"In Texas, everybody wants to go to either UT or A&M — everybody. If they say they don't, they are lying. I mean, everybody," Leslie said. "When I grew up, UT was my school, and I loved it. So now it is going to be amazing to play in front of all the fans — you know, Texas boy, playing at UT. That's something cool."
Leslie said he has procured about 20 tickets from his teammates for the game, and still needs more, so "tons of family members" can see him play.
"Coming out [of Tomball High, north of Houston], I talked to Texas a few times, but I never got a scholarship," he said. "So you always want to play against them. Saturday night is going to be a good night to show up and have the team win."
Leslie said he chose BYU after he decided he wanted to transfer out of UTEP for his final season of eligibility because of receivers coach Guy Holliday, who coached him in 2011 and 2012 at UTEP. He visited the campus last January, and decided it was the right place for him, despite not being a member of the LDS Church.
"The biggest impact [on his decision] was coach Holliday, and then taking the visit and seeing coach Mendenhall and how he treats players, and what he demands from them. That was the biggest thing," he said. "But I mean, seeing UT on the schedule was a big plus."
Leslie, who was double-teamed a lot Saturday night, caught 44 passes for 612 yards last year at UTEP, numbers that were down a bit from his standout sophomore season because the Miners changed coaching staffs and became more of a running team. He has spent the week telling his teammates what they can expect Saturday night in front of 100,000-plus fans in Austin.
"I am sure UT fans are circling this game — the way they got beat last year, I know they are circling this game, and ready for this game," he said. "It is going to be packed — over 100,000 — and it is going to be crazy. So it is going to be a fun atmosphere."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Jordan Leslie file
• Eligible to play immediately, per NCAA transfer rules, because he graduated from UTEP with a degree in electrical engineering.
• Six-foot-3 senior caught 44 passes for 612 yards and seven touchdowns lsat year for the Miners, earned Conference USA honorable mention honors
• Houston native was a first-team All-Texas prep receiver at Tomball High School and an all-district basketball player —
BYU at Texas
O Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • Fox Sports 1