Stevenson’s big-play abilities paying off for Cougars

By now, the replay has been shown just about everywhere with a screen.

Marquez Stevenson catching the ball and turning on the afterburners as all 11 SMU defenders chased him from behind on a 75yard touchdown.

In case you missed that one, later in the same Oct. 24 game, Stevenson took a pass near his own end zone and switched into another gear near midfield for an eventual 96-yard score.

“Every opportunity I get — no matter what play, what down, what route I run — when the ball touches my hands, no matter where we are on the field, I’m looking to score,” said Stevenson, a junior wide receiver for the University of Houston. “First down is good, but every time I touch the ball, I’m looking to score.”

Would you expect anything less from a guy nicknamed Speedy?

Healthy the past two seasons, Stevenson has emerged as the Cougars’ big-play threat on everything from kick returns to a smattering of plays out of the backfield to his role as the No. 1 receiver. Even short catches turn into impromptu track meets.

“I know I have a lot of advantage with speed,” Stevenson said. “I feel like if I get into open space, I’m not going to be able to get caught.”

Does he often get caught from behind?

“No sir,” he said with a smile. Except for that one time this season against North Texas, when a defender grabbed Stevenson by his undershirt.

“Ever since then, I have my shirt tucked in,” he said.

Entering Saturday’s game

against No. 18 Memphis at TDECU Stadium, Stevenson has 36 catches for 666 yards and six touchdowns. It’s after Stevenson makes the catch, however, that the real show begins.

Stevenson ranks fourth nationally with 472 yards after the catch, an indicator of his big-play ability. His 13.11 yards after catch average also is fourth.

His nine receptions of at least 50 yards are the most in FBS since the start of the 2018 season. That includes four this year of 60 or more yards, tied with Florida

State’s Tamorrion Terry, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace.

In his biggest game, Stevenson had five catches for a career-high 211 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-31 loss to SMU. The 96-yard touchdown ranks as the fourthlongest offensive scoring play in UH history.

“It’s my job to get it to him and let him do the rest, which is what he’s really good at,” quarterback Clayton Tune said.

Tune said he has “grown the relationship and chemistry” with Stevenson since stepping into the quarterback spot Sept. 28 at North Texas.

“Just looking to keep doing that and build on and hopefully connect on more of those (big plays) the next few weeks,” Tune said.

Stevenson, who is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a comeback story of his own. His first two collegiate seasons were wiped out by a broken collarbone and ACL tear. In his last two seasons, Stevenson has rebounded with 111 catches for 1,685 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“I think about that all the time, and it motivates me,” Stevenson said of his injury-plagued first two seasons. “I know where I came from. I know what I’ve had to go through to get where I am.”

One destination that appears close: a shot at playing in the NFL. Stevenson, who has a year of eligibility left, said he won’t weigh his future options until after the regular season.

“I haven’t been worried about that type of stuff yet because we have three more games left,” he said. “At the end of the year, I’ll sit down with my family and make the best decision.”