The nation’s leading pass catcher continues to turn heads — those of defensive backs and casual observers.
Declan O’Brien, a senior wide receiver at Allegheny College, had a career game Saturday with a school-record 18 receptions for 233 yards and a touchdown in a 35-28 loss to Washington & Jefferson.
The Norwin graduate was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and was picked for the D3football.com Team of the Week, both honors coming in for the second time this season.
The performance marked his third game this year with 13 or more catches and his second of 200 or more yards.
Allegheny plays in Division III, but O’Brien’s numbers lead all NCAA levels.
He has 66 receptions for 897 yards. That is 149.5 receiving yards per game.
O’Brien (5-11, 170) also has six touchdowns.
He could find his name in other categories in the record book soon.
The Gators’ single-season record for receptions is 76 by Alex Victor in 2019. Victor also holds the program’s top mark for receiving yards in a season with 1,037.
As far as career numbers go, Victor has team records in catches (219) and yards (3,294).
O’Brien, an All-PAC honorable mention last season, has 157 grabs for 2,208 yard in two-plus seasons.
He had 49 receptions for 691 yards in 10 games last year.
