Cowan Pulls a Fast One on Defenders

UCLA junior Joe Cowan will never be known as a speed receiver, but he was fast enough in high school to rank among the best in California in the 300-meter hurdles.

It’s this type of deceptiveness that has made Cowan such a valuable piece in the Bruins’ high-scoring offense this season. After not catching a pass in UCLA’s season-opening win at San Diego State, Cowan has become a go-to receiver in the clutch for quarterback Drew Olson.

Of Cowan’s 25 receptions this season, 18 have produced either first downs or touchdowns.

“Joe doesn’t say much,” Coach Karl Dorrell said of the soft-spoken Cowan, older brother of redshirt freshman quarterback Patrick Cowan. “But the last four or five weeks, he just quietly makes plays and runs off the field. He doesn’t do much celebration or anything like that. But that’s just Joe.”

At 6 feet 4, 220 pounds, Cowan is bigger than opposing defensive backs, and his speed takes many defenders by surprise.

He was at his best Saturday in UCLA’s 30-27 overtime victory at Stanford. He finished with five catches for 71 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown play that kept the Bruins’ comeback hopes alive. Cowan also made a key fourth-down catch for a five-yard gain to the Stanford one-yard line that led to Maurice Drew’s game-tying touchdown run.

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During the 2003 season, UCLA quarterbacks combined to throw 12 touchdown passes and had 13 interceptions, with 13 players catching more than one pass.

In UCLA’s last three games, Olson has thrown 13 touchdown passes with only one interception, and has completed throws to 11 different receivers.

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Dorrell said Drew suffered a bruise above his knee against Stanford but was expected to play on Saturday against Arizona.