Football has been around for a long time. Especially in regards to college, which has lasted even longer than the NFL. It’s fair to say the sport has seen its fair share of incredible catches over the many decades. So when somebody raises the question of who made the greatest catch in college football history? It is pretty loaded because of the sheer number of contenders involved. Dazz Newsome though seems pretty confident he has a case.
Pro Football Focus posed this exact question on Twitter. There were plenty of valid responses, all deserving of mention.
- Chris Moore’s between-the-legs grab for Western Washington
- Edwin Baptiste going full horizontal for a one-handed snag at Morgan State
- Tyrone Prothro of Alabama pinning the ball against a defender’s back
- Charles Woodson’s ridiculous leaping one-handed INT vs. Michigan State
The list goes on. Newsome thinks he has them all beat though. It came in a rivalry game between North Carolina and Duke. Early in the 1st quarter, Tarheels QB Sam Howell took a shot downfield to Newsome. It wasn’t a well-placed ball, put in a spot where it was clearly between the receiver and the defensive back covering him. That didn’t seem to bother Dazz though. He just decided to make an insane play.
https://t.co/KDqVGqbeeu pic.twitter.com/eI1ERSgl9K
— Dazz Newsome (@dazznewsome05) July 22, 2021
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Sadly the catch didn’t lead to much.
A few plays later Howell squandered it by throwing an interception. This might be why the catch itself is overlooked by many. If it had happened at a bigger moment of the game or against a bigger opponent? People would still be talking about it right now. Thankfully the end result was a good one as UNC held on to beat their rivals 20-17. Newsome finished the afternoon with 103 yards and a touchdown.
Dazz Newsome brings that same playmaking instinct to Chicago
Rest assured that insane moment two years was hardly the only good catch the receiver made in college. In fact, he built a small library of such big plays. He developed a reputation for being the guy North Carolina turned to when they needed a clutch catch. His juggler against Texas A&M for a touchdown. The top-tapper against Miami in the 4th quarter for a score. His backpedaling TD in double coverage against Temple.
It didn’t take long for quarterback Sam Howell to realize something. Just throw the ball in the general vicinity of Dazz Newsome and something good will probably happen. This is a big reason why the Bears were drawn to him. Though he went in the 6th round, there is a strong belief his true value is higher than that. Not just because of his big-play potential as a receiver but also his return ability.
Will he see action as a rookie though?
That remains uncertain. Chicago spent all off-season retooling their wide receiver position with new faces like Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd as well. Throw in the fact that Newsome broke his collarbone back in May? He has a steep mountain to climb. Don’t count him out though. Few play better under pressure than him.