UH tight end Patrick Overmyer didn’t just have a good game against Kansas State this past Saturday, he absolutely exploded, tying an FBS record with four touchdown receptions in the Cougars’ dominant 35-16 victory. That insane performance snagged him the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award, and honestly, can you even argue with that? The dude was unstoppable.
Overmyer and Dougherty Are Just Built Different
Seriously, Overmyer’s four scores put him in a super exclusive club, becoming only the seventh tight end in FBS history to hit that mark in a single game. And get this: halfway through the regular season, he’s already leading all tight ends nationally with six touchdown receptions. He’s also sitting second in receptions with 33 and receiving yards with 393. When you talk about impact players, Overmyer is it for the Cougars. He’s putting up numbers that make you do a double-take. He’s humble about it too, saying, “It’s awesome. But I just want to say thank you to my coaches and my team. They’re the ones that put me in that opportunity, and I was lucky enough to be there when my name was called. So credit goes to them.”
But hold up, Overmyer isn’t the only Cougar lighting it up. Punter Liam Dougherty also earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors, and you know what? He earned every bit of it. Dougherty averaged a ridiculous 59.3 yards on three punts, smashing the old school record of 55.3 yards that was set way back in 2003. Plus, his 74-yard punt? That’s the sixth-longest in school history. These guys are out here breaking records and setting the standard.
Where’s the Ball Going? Amare Thomas’s Production Dip and What It Means
While Overmyer and Dougherty are grabbing headlines, there’s a bit of a wrinkle in the Cougars’ receiving game with Amare Thomas. This guy was an All-Big 12 wide receiver last season and started this year on fire, catching a touchdown in four straight games. During that hot streak, he racked up 23 catches for 287 yards. But lately, opposing defenses have been keying in on him, and he’s gone two straight games without a touchdown. In those last two outings, he’s only got six catches for 74 yards on 13 targets.
Coach Willie Fritz is well aware, saying, “We need to get him going like he was the first few ballgames. He’s a very good player for us.” The thing is, with other playmakers like Overmyer and Luke McGary stepping up, it changes how defenses play. Fritz puts it perfectly, “The more guys that get involved, the harder it is for a team to double-team, or key a guy or adjust their coverage towards one guy.” It sounds like they’re working to spread the love and get Thomas back into his groove, which will only make the offense more dangerous.
Injury Report and Off-Field Wins
In some tough injury news, freshman running back John Hebert is done for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL. He hurt his left knee on kickoff coverage in the Cougars’ October 3 win against UCF. Hebert actually had his best game of the season in Week 2 against Southern with a 20-yard touchdown catch and a 7-yard touchdown run. The good news? Coach Fritz expects him to be “full-go” for summer workouts, ready to rehab and train by early June. Despite that, Fritz says the team is in “pretty good shape” injury-wise overall, though linebacker Jaden Yates and wide receiver Muizz Tounkara missed Monday’s practice.
Off the field, the Cougars are also making moves. Their October 2 Hall of Honor Gala was a huge success, raising over $1.4 million. That’s a record for the event, with 750 guests packing the Post Oak Hotel. It’s awesome to see that kind of support for the program.
The Cougars are rolling right now, thanks to monster performances from guys like Overmyer and Dougherty, and the rest of the Big 12 is officially on notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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