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Logan • When defensive end B.J. Larsen is recognized with the other 18 seniors before their final home game Friday against San Jose State, there will be plenty of people in the stands thankful for the impact he has made with the Aggies.

Actually, they should be thankful they had him at all.

Larsen, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound senior, represents one of those feel-good stories of an athlete overlooked at the high school level who blossomed into a collegiate success.

A multi-sport athlete at nearby Logan H.S., Larsen didn't receive any offers to play college ball. He assumed his career was over, so he started a new chapter in his life by serving an LDS mission in Arkansas.

There, he passed much of his time eating.

"I put on a ton of weight and when I came back home, I thought I might be able to play college ball," he said. "I was thinking of going to Utah State and I knew the program was on the rise anyway, so it was a good situation for me."

Turns out it was a good situation for the Aggies, too, since they were looking for some depth along the line. After redshirting in 2010 and earning some playing time in 2011, Larsen had his breakthrough year in 2012 — when he finished with 19 tackles including four sacks and had three QB hurries.

Last year he earned all-Mountain West Conference honors after finishing with 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks. This season he has 27 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and seven sacks.

Not only his talent, but his work ethic, has made Larsen a special player, Utah State coach Matt Wells said.

"He's a self-made man," Wells said. "The guy's a man out there every week. He plays through pain. He's a tremendously tough kid. When we talk about field corn in our building and kids that are no-maintenance and tough, that's B.J."

Larsen said he takes pride not in his stats, but what the team has been able to do as a whole. He knew the Aggies had a good defense and he wanted to make sure he contributed to it, not hampered it, during his career.

"I think we held up our part this year and that's satisfying," he said. "Being here has been a great experience, especially the way we've all rallied together."

If he and the Aggies have their way, they'll go out the way they want to as well: by beating San Jose State to go undefeated at home, then upending Boise State at home to get to the league title game.

Soon, it will be time for Larsen to move onto his next phase in life. He is getting a degree in business administration but hasn't ruled out thoughts of playing professionally somewhere.

As he knows more than anyone, the future can be unpredictable.

"I'm just going to see what happens," he said. —

B.J, Larsen file

Vitals • 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Senior

From • Logan, Utah

Of note • Has 27 tackles, seven sacks and an interception this season…Had a career high three sacks against Wake Forest…Earned second-team All-MWC honors last season after totaling 31 tackles and four sacks in 2013…Played basketball, tennis and basketball for Logan H.S. —

San Jose State at Utah State

P Friday, 7:30 p.m.

TV • ESPN2