In their first possession of the 2006 season, the Cougars marched down the field against Rice and scored six points. Then Cougar quarterback Kevin Kolb threw a six-yard pass to now senior Jeron Harvey for their first points of the 2006 season. From that point on, the Cougars excelled in the season, capturing their first undisputed conference championship in 28 years, a 10-4 record and a trip to the Liberty Bowl.
That six-yard touchdown reception sparked a breakthrough season for Harvey. He finished the season with 41 receptions, 671 yards, four touchdowns and played all 14 games for the Cougars.
The Cougars will look to Harvey for an explosive season as he steps into the starting lineup this season. Harvey spent the offseason fine tuning his game and going the extra mile.
"A few of the receivers did a lot of extra work like cone drills and different things of that sort," Harvey said. "We’re just trying to do it right because we know that we have an ‘X’ on our chests, so we’ll do whatever to get that edge on our opponents."
The senior wide receiver has put in a lot of work in the off-season. Harvey and fellow senior wide receiver Donnie Avery spent some time working on basic drills.
"In the offseason we worked on just catching the ball, just doing the little things right. We got to go back to the basics to get the little things right. It proves our technique when you do the little things right," Avery said.
Harvey will more than likely be a force to reckon with on offense this season, standing tall at 6-5 and weighing in at 215 pounds. Harvey also brings great speed for a receiver of his height, and it will play a big role this season.
"(Harvey) is a great guy. He’s got the height, the size and he has the speed for a big guy, so he’s going to do real well this year," Avery said.
Harvey may be hard for opponents to match, but the Cougars will still have to get the ball to him for them to utilize his tools.
The Cougars took a blow after Kolb graduated. Kolb started four years for head coach Art Briles, and Houston still does not have a clear-cut starter for the opener in Oregon.
Kolb was the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year last season and he also earned multiple Cougar records during his career in Houston.
But Harvey doesn’t seem too worried about the subtraction of Kolb.
"Losing Kolb is big, but I think the quarterbacks we put out there are good. They’re learning and putting their time and effort in with coach Briles and doing film sessions," Harvey said. "I think the scheme is still the same, it’s still coach Briles’ offensive. We just have someone else to put in Kolb’s place, so we just have to have him do the same thing Kolb did."
Spending a couple of years under former Cougar Vincent Marshall may pay huge dividends for Harvey. Harvey said Marshall gave him a lot to work with and looks to use what he learned this season.
"Marshall was a workhorse, (along) with Biren Ealy, so I looked up to them. I see where they are now, so I’m trying to get to the level they’re at. I already know by playing with them for a whole year or two, I know what kind of preparation I need to do," Harvey said.
Briles preaches consistency to his players and expects nothing but great things from his receiving core.
"We’ve had outstanding receivers for the past four years and this certainly isn’t going to change this year," Briles said. "Harvey and Avery both have different things they bring to the table. They both can beat you in different ways and that is what’s so good about them."
Before coming to Houston, Harvey attended Dodge City Community College and was one of the top junior-college wide receivers in the country.
Harvey has handled the pressure all the way through high school and junior college, and will now take on this challenge head-on.
Harvey said his goal is to help the Cougars win another conference title, but doesn’t shy away from the spotlight.
"Everyday we are out on the field and everyday we’re competing real hard so we can bring (the conference title) back," Harvey said. "I really haven’t set any personal goals, but whatever helps the team. If it takes 1,000 yards to help the team, then that’s what I’ll have to do."
With a good improvement season in 2006 and hard offseason training, will Harvey be ready?
"I’m ready for the pressure," Harvey said. "We did summer workouts and extra things, so I think that’s going to prepare us for the season and we already know what we’re going to expect."
