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Cut from the team ‘three or four times,’ BYU walk-on linebacker Riggs Powell won’t take no for an answer

“Three or four times, at least,” said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior from Aptos, Calif.

But when the Cougars face Boise State on Saturday at Albertsons Stadium, the married non-scholarship player, who works 5-15 hours a week as a commercial data analyst at the Utah County Assessors Office to make ends meet, will make his third start of the season at outside linebacker.

He has also been a valuable special teams contributor the past two seasons. And yes, he has a beard card — a doctor’s permission to grow facial hair for medical reasons.

“I love playing football way too much to give it up,” he said.