NORMAN, Okla. — The ball floated in the air, for what seemed like forever, as it headed toward Noah Brown in the corner of the end zone. And as it hung up for what felt like minutes, only one thing ran through the mind of Ohio State's redshirt sophomore wide receiver.
"Come down with the ball," he said. "Do anything you can to catch that ball.”
When J.T. Barrett's pass finally reached its intended target, Brown did just that as he reached around Oklahoma defensive back Michiah Quick and literally pinned the ball on his back. Brown's foot came down in bounds to give the Buckeyes a touchdown in a play that is currently the leading candidate for catch of the year in college football.
And just like that, a star was born.
"It was one of the great catches from what I heard," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of the play. "I can’t use the language that I heard from the press box upstairs.”
But Brown's signature moment came in a game filled with highlights. The third-ranked Buckeyes cruised to a 45-24 road victory against No. 14 Oklahoma, and Brown had a school-record tying four touchdown grabs on the day.
Not a bad way to announce your presence to the college football world.
Most people outside of Columbus probably never heard of Brown prior to Saturday night. The Flanders, New Jersey native missed all of last year following a season-ending leg injury in fall camp. Before that, he played a minimal role on the Buckeyes' national championship winning team in 2014 as a true freshman.
Brown was pegged to be a starting wide receiver on last year's team before his injury late in camp. It was difficult to miss all of that time, but he's certainly making the most of his opportunity now.
“It was definitely a tough injury going down so close to the first game but my teammates really had my back and supported me, helped me get back to where I am right now," Brown said. "I feel like I owed it to them to come out here and play well when my number is called. I love my teammates to death and I’m glad to be back with them.”
His teammates love him, too.
All of fall camp Ohio State players and coaches raved about Brown's ability to make big plays at the wide receiver position. Barrett even said Brown had "suction cups for hands" at one point in August.
"He has that mentality when the ball is in the air, it's his," Barrett said. "That's great to have as a wide receiver. It's one of those things you either got it or you don't. Noah, he's gonna have it."
Brown had touchdown grabs of 4, 37, 21 and 8 yards on the evening and all four came during plays in which Oklahoma opted to defend him one-on-one. When that happens, Brown's eyes widen.
"When I see that, I try to go make a play," he said. "One-on-one coverage, that’s my opportunity, really, so I’m glad we were able to take advantage of it."
Ohio State will certainly look to take advantage of it again going forward, but the Buckeyes passed their first big test of the 2016 season relatively easily in their convincing win here against the Sooners.
It looked almost as easy as Brown made the impossible look Saturday night.
“It’s been a little while since I’ve had more than one touchdown in a game," Brown said. "It means a lot to come out here in a hostile environment with my brothers and take a victory so we’re real excited.”
