The Secret Behind Uh Receiver Koby Young's Big Catches: Confidence. 'big Play Koby.'

Koby Young doesn't do it on purpose. Really, promise.

Young doesn't take the football field and turn every catch into a competition to see how difficult he can make it look. 

It's just always been this way for the University of Houston's big-play wide receiver.

"Since high school, I've been making crazy off-the-helmet catches," Young said. "That's kind of been my identity."

There was the 48-yard touchdown against Oklahoma State, when quarterback Conner Weigman dropped a perfect throw over Young's right shoulder in the Cougars' 35-32 win.

Still not convinced?

How about the 46-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown catch against Texas Tech, when Young pinned the ball against his shoulder pad with a defender draped all over him?

Or the 22-yard touchdown grab in stride against Georgia Southern.

Against Kansas State, Young came up just short of the goal line on a 36-yard catch, then later added a 40-yard run off a reverse play.

Just call him "Big Play Koby."

As the No. 14 Cougars prepare for a second consecutive ranked showdown, Saturday against No. 10 Utah in Salt Lake City, Young has put together the best start of his college career.

And he's left some asking: How did he do that?

His 21.8-yard average per catch ranks fourth nationally, making him a dangerous downfield target for Weigman and a key weapon in one of the nation's most explosive offenses.

What is Young's secret?

Confidence.

"If you don't think you're going to catch the ball, you're not going to catch the ball," said Young, whose five touchdown catches are a career high and rank third on the team. "Every time it's in the air, I know it's mine. It's not even a thought."

Don't mistake Young's confidence for cockiness. He's comfortable in his role in UH's receiving corps, which includes Amare Thomas, an All-Big 12 selection last season, tight end Patrick Overmyer, an All-American candidate, and Trent Walker.

Does Young enjoy being known as UH's big-play threat?

"I like being 1-0 and winning games," Young said. "Whatever comes with it. If I'm the deep threat, the short threat or any guy, I just want to help the team win."

It's all part of Young's growth in his second full season. That growth hasn't gone unnoticed. Before last week's game against Oklahoma State, Young was named a team captain for the first time.

Young said being selected a captain "meant the world."

"I don't think he stopped smiling for 30 minutes," Weigman said. 

Coach Willie Fritz takes the captain selections seriously. The decision is made by a vote of the coaching staff, with Fritz retaining the right to overrule the vote.

Fritz said captains must be "great teammates and great practice guys" who play at a high level and are also successful in the classroom. 

"He's earned it," Fritz said. "He practices hard. He's a very good teammate. I'm glad guys are excited (about being selected a captain). That's a big deal, in my opinion. You get to put that on your résumé the rest of your life, that you were a team captain. When I'm hiring somebody, if I see they were a team captain, that would mean something to me if I was running a business."

After being injured during his freshman season, Young played in all 13 games last season (eight starts) as the Cougars went 10-3 and won the Texas Bowl. He had no drops on 26 targets.

Young has already set career highs in receptions (13), receiving yards (284) and touchdowns (five).

"He's more confident in what he's doing," UH offensive coordinator Slade Nagle said. "Last year was really like his freshman year, because he was hurt the year before."

Nagle said Young built on his late-season progress by working through the spring, summer and fall. 

"It's paying off for him and us," Nagle said.

Added Weigman: "He does it all for us. He's a special dude. Special personality. Special talent."

Thomas said he has seen Young mature. After an incomplete pass against Oklahoma State, Young was "kind of down," Thomas said. Thomas and Walker told him he'd get another opportunity.

A few plays later, Young caught a 48-yard touchdown that helped seal UH's biggest home win in a decade.

"It's been amazing," Thomas said. "Just the maturity, he's more involved as y'all can see, but he's just into it more. He's finishing plays, he's scoring touchdowns."

And Young is 1-0 as a captain. 

"I was just happy to go out there and represent us, and we got the win," he said. "So maybe I need to be captain more."

Subscribe

This article originally published at The secret behind UH receiver Koby Young's big catches: confidence. 'Big Play Koby.'.