J.C. PERCY, LINEBACKER

If any Boise State player is going to enjoy playing against New Mexico’s option offense, it’s Percy. He’s a hard-nosed, run-stuffing linebacker with a high motor. But Percy is no fan of the option.

“Everyone on defense, this is like their least favorite offense to go against,” Percy said. “It’s just so awkward and different from a normal, conventional offense. That’s the biggest thing. You aren’t used to playing against something like this. When you do, you have to relearn how to do it.”

Percy made 12 tackles last week against BYU. He leads the team with 25 tackles this season — putting him on pace for his first 100-tackle campaign.

“He always plays well,” defensive tackle Mike Atkinson said. “He’s one of our leading tacklers every year. I just expect it from him.”

D.J. HARPER, TAILBACK

Harper has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games for the second time in his career and has topped the century mark in four of his past eight games, dating to last season.

He has been incredibly busy this year with 62 carries for 282 yards, six catches for 48 yards and three kickoff returns for 71 yards.

He has accounted for 31 percent of the Broncos’ yards from scrimmage and four of five offensive touchdowns.

All that begs the question of whether the Broncos are asking too much of the sixth-year senior — particularly given the run of injuries the Broncos have absorbed at that position in recent years (including two knee surgeries for Harper).

“I’d like to get him more (touches),” coach Chris Petersen said. “He produces. He’s a tough guy, he really is.”

JAMAR TAYLOR, CORNERBACK

There wasn’t much for first-year defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake to nitpick Taylor about going into his senior year. There was this: Taylor recorded just three interceptions in his first three seasons, including two as a full-time starter.

He has added two more already this season.

“If you look at the first three games last year, nobody really threw the ball my way,” Taylor said. “This year people are actually throwing the ball my way. I’m starting to make more plays.”

Taylor also forced a fumble last week on a corner blitz, chasing BYU quarterback Riley Nelson for about 35 yards to make the hit. Taylor is the boundary corner, which means he plays the short side of the field.

“It’s just a start for him,” Lake said. “A lot of teams in college football go into the boundary, so he’s going to have a lot of opportunities.”