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Deon Butler arrived at Penn State without a scholarship. He likely will leave with the school's all-time reception record.

Butler, with 162 career catches, needs six receptions to pass Bobby Engram. The former walk-on defensive back also is second in career receiving yards (2,447) and third in touchdown catches (18). His numbers this season are a team-best 30 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns.

The individual accomplishments are nice, but Butler's focus is keeping the 8-0 Nittany Lions on track for a BCS title run by beating Ohio State on Saturday night in Columbus.

"I think I'd much rather be remembered as a guy that was part of an undefeated team that played for a national championship," he said.

Butler is a surprising component in what has become a golden era of receivers at Penn State.

Derrick Williams arrived a year after the redshirt senior Butler, but they started seeing playing time in the 2005 season, as did Jordan Norwood, another lightly recruited receiver.

Williams is tied with Norwood for third on the all-time reception list at 142. Norwood has the edge in yardage (ninth, 1,783) over Williams (11th, 1,540).

Three hasn't been a crowd, but it has been a unique experience for Lions coach Joe Paterno.

"I don't think we've ever had three that were quite like these three are, who have played so much and for so long and who have made so many plays," he said. "They like each other a lot. They complement each other a lot. They help each other.

"It's fun to watch them even in practice, talk to each other and compare notes and all those kind of things."

Four seasons ago, it was Williams who was expected to have the standout career. He was considered by some as 2005's top recruit in the country. Williams went as far to think his college career would be truncated by an early departure to the NFL.

"When I came in, I definitely saw myself as a three-and-out guy," Williams said. "I just had to rethink things."

Butler is comfortable with his walk-on roots, even though he's long been upgraded to a scholarship player.

"I really don't use it as motivation, but I never forget it," he said. "That's a fact, and it definitely makes the story sound a lot better."

While Butler rose from obscurity to prominence, he's paid close attention to the expectations on Williams, and the way his teammate has dealt with them.

"I think he's handled it great," Butler said. "It's phenomenal the pressures you have to make plays, to be what everyone else wants you to be."

"Everybody has high expectations for you when you come in with that mark on your back as the number one player," Williams said.

Even though Williams hasn't had the dominant career some anticipated, he's having a strong season catching passes (25 catches, 282 yards) and excelling as a returner, where he's returned one punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns. Williams leads the Big Ten in kickoff returns, averaging 32.2 yards.

The oddity is that all three wide receivers have been able to share opportunities and rise to prominent spots on Penn State's all-time lists.

Butler attributes that in part to a change in offensive philosophy from before his career.

"We have been throwing the ball a lot more," he said.

Williams respects what Butler has earned.

"He came in here as a walk-on, and he just worked hard for everything he has," he said.

Note: Paterno said on his radio show Thursday that safety Anthony Scirrotto (concussion) has been cleared to play against Ohio State.

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