BOISE, Idaho — Titus Young let the Boise State crowd know what opposing coaches are going to find out when they start watching film on the Broncos.

“I’m back,” Young shouted to the white-clad faithful after hauling in a 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kellen Moore in the third quarter of the Broncos’ 48-0 rout of Miami (Ohio) on Saturday night in Bronco Stadium.
Young, a junior wide receiver who was suspended for 10 games total and the last nine consecutive last season for undisclosed reasons, most certainly is back. He had a team-high six catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns against the overmatched RedHawks.
His speed — on display when Young was running open behind the entire Miami defense on the 54-yard touchdown — is a game-changer for the Broncos offense and something that was noticeably absent last year.
Miami double teamed Young, who also had a 25-yard touchdown catch in the waning seconds of the first half, for part of the game and thus dedicated less attention to Boise State’s other receivers. Austin Pettis and Tyler Shoemaker combined for seven catches, 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Young, as has been the case since he returned from suspension for spring practice, was not allowed to speak to the media.
“He’s an extremely explosive players. It’s nice to see him with a little bit of space and the ball in his hands,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. “If you miss a tackle or take a bad angle, he’s going to out run it and make you pay.” Young has made plenty of people pay. He has 12 touchdowns in 18 career games for the Broncos.
Speed kills. It also enthralls.
“Everyone knows who Titus is: He’s the fast guy,” Moore said.
Young has always captured the fancy of Bronco fans. Pettis, like Young a junior who has played since basically stepping foot on campus, has better hands and is a more dependable receiver. Pettis, too, had a brilliant game Saturday night with four catches for 115 yards, one touchdown and a blocked punt.
But there is something about speed that attracts attention. The 100-meter champion is a household name. The 10,000-meter record holder, well, isn’t.
People pay attention to speed.
They certainly pay attention to Young.
Fans voted him player of the game, even topping Moore who was his typical stat-producing self with 307 yards and four touchdowns passing.
In the game’s final minutes — well after Young and his first-string mates had retired to the sidelines for the evening — the fans chanted his name from behind the Bronco bench. Young responded by flexing his right arm in appreciation.
When the game was (mercifully) over, Young and some of his teammates slapped hands with fans in the south end zone. Nearly all of them shouted “Titus, Titus” as he walked by.
A smile came across his face as he departed the field under the stands.
“You can definitely tell he’s cherishing it a little more,” Pettis said of the change in Young since returning to the team. “He’s definitely coming in with a different mentality.” He’s back. Opposing defensive coordinators have been warned.