Deon Butler walked on to the Penn State football team as a defensive back.

He'll likely walk away from it as the school's career receptions leader.

Barring something unforeseen, Butler will break Bobby Engram's record Saturday when Penn State hosts Indiana in a noon kickoff that serves as the first of two steps to reach the Rose Bowl.

Butler, a lightly recruited player out of high school, tied Engram's record of 167 career receptions in last week's loss to Iowa and needs just one reception to break the record.

He also trails only Engram in career receiving yardage with 2,485 yards. Engram, whose last season was in 1995, has 3,026.

Butler already has more receptions as a Lion than NFL players like Engram, Bryant Johnson, Kenny Jackson, Joe Jurevicius and O.J. McDuffie.

"Just to be in the same sentence with those guys is definitely a blessing," Butler said. "So to be on top of that list is definitely something special, something I can look back on when I leave here."

Smaller schools offered Butler a scholarship out of C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va., but Butler decided to cut his teeth as a Lion walk-on.

He spent his freshman year as a defensive back on the scout team, then began to make his impact as a redshirt freshman in 2005 when his nine touchdowns were more than any other freshman receiver in school history.

"He had some offers, comes from a wonderful family," Joe Paterno said. "The dad and mom made a lot of sacrifices to send him here as a walk-on, picked up the bill and the whole bit."

One of the schools to offer Butler a scholarship was Coastal Carolina, Penn State's opponent in its season opener.

Coastal Carolina coach Dave Bennett noticed Butler's route running, speed and hands and said he thought those attributes would translate to a successful college career.

"He's a special player," Coastal Carolina coach Dave Bennett said. "Fast and strong. When you have both those -- fast and strong -- that's awesome to be blessed with both those. Deon's a neat kid. I wish him the best."

Butler could break the record with ease. Indiana's secondary is the worst in the Big Ten and ranked 91st nationally.

The Hoosiers have allowed 250 or more passing yards to four different teams, including 485 to Central Michigan two weeks ago.

"Indiana looks awful at times," Paterno said. "Indiana looks very good at times. Other times, they've killed themselves."

Butler has been approaching the record for weeks. He entered the Ohio State game needing five receptions short of tying Engram's record and finished with two.

He then needed four receptions against the Hawkeyes to break the record and finished with three.

Now, all Butler needs is one.

He seems a lock to put his name atop Penn State's career receptions list against Indiana.

The only question is at what point in the game it will happen.

"That's awesome for him and for this football team and for our wide receiver corps," Jordan Norwood said. "It's a great thing he'll do that in the upcoming weeks, if not this weekend. He's a great player, great friend of mine, so I'm happy for him. He'll enjoy it, and hopefully it's in a victory."