Charles Young watched USC tight end Anthony McCoy play against Notre Dame and marveled.
Young, an All-American tight end on USC's 1972 national championship team, saw McCoy produce more receiving yardage than any tight end in USC history, often spectacularly.
"I like his style," said Young, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and a three-time NFL Pro Bowl player. "I like the way he walks onto the field with panache.
"He exudes confidence that says, 'I'm the best.' "
McCoy looked like the best tight end in college football against the Fighting Irish, catching five passes for 153 yards and setting up two touchdowns and a field goal in the Trojans' 34-27 win at Notre Dame.
After waiting two seasons behind Mackey Award winner Fred Davis, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound McCoy has developed into an upper-round NFL prospect in his second season as a starter.
"He's got the whole package," USC Coach Pete Carroll said. "Few guys are that flashy and effective as receivers that can also block.
"He's going to be a tremendous prospect at the next level."
McCoy enters Saturday's game against Oregon State averaging a team-best 25 yards a reception. He has caught 14 passes, second on the team to wideout Damian Williams, and overcome a few early drops to become a short, mid-range and deep threat.
"He can stretch the field," freshman quarterback Matt Barkley said. "It's been such an advantage to have that. . . . The way he can run vertically and just have a knack for catching the ball and finding that open window is huge."
Huge might be the appropriate description of McCoy when he arrived at USC in the summer of 2006.
At Fresno Bullard High, he was a lithe 225-pound wide receiver who caught 70 passes as a senior and also played defensive end.
McCoy chose the Trojans over California and Fresno State, hoping to follow in the footsteps of rangy wideouts such as Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett.
"I was like 'OK, they like big receivers,' " McCoy said.
But after undergoing shoulder surgery following his senior season, McCoy got just plain large.
Lack of physical activity after the operation combined with a part-time restaurant job led to his undoing.
"I worked at Round Table delivering pizzas," he said, chuckling, "and eating them."
By the time McCoy arrived at USC for summer workouts, he had gained 40 pounds.
