By Jeremy Brown, WKU Athletics
Going through a slew of interviews during WKU Football's annual media day on Aug. 2, Doughty told the local media his knowledge of head coach Jeff Brohm's offense had resulted in heightened confidence in the offseason.
"My confidence is at an all-time high," Doughty said in the preseason. "I can't wait to hit the ground running."
Doughty's confidence wasn't just internal. Redshirt senior wide receiver Willie McNeal, who has caught 71 passes from Doughty in WKU's last 17 games, knew his quarterback was on the cusp of a great season.
"I feel like he'll be way better than last year," McNeal told the Louisville Courier-Journal during the preseason. "It's going to be a good show with Doughty."
WKU didn't take the gridiron for its season-opener against Bowling Green State until 28 days after Doughty made his initial comments about confidence, but he and McNeal proved prophetic. On the opening drive of the season, Doughty connected on 7-of-7 passes for 63 yards in marching WKU down the field for an 83-yard touchdown drive.
Thirty-nine completions, 506 yards and six touchdowns later, Doughty had shattered every single-game passing record in WKU history while leading his Hilltoppers to a 59-31 romp over the defending Mid-American Conference champions. He finished his historic night 46-of-56 for 569 yards and six touchdowns.
Doughty's performance was a little more than hitting the ground running and more like the show McNeal predicted in the preseason. Seven different national outlets recognized Doughty for his monster performance after he became the third quarterback in the past decade of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football to throw for 500 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions in a single game.
"He's an accurate passer and if you give him some plays where he can get the ball out of his hand, he's going to be accurate," Brohm said after the Bowling Green win. "If you can get him in a rhythm, get him some completions and let him get in a groove - that's his strength. That confidence just grows and grows."
Doughty's confidence has continued to grow as his senior season has progressed. Two weeks after re-writing the record books against the Falcons, Doughty actually surpassed his output from the season-opener in a Conference USA battle versus rival Middle Tennessee. Against the Blue Raiders, Doughty connected on 43-of-66 passes for a C-USA record 593 yards and four touchdowns.
With half the season under his belt, Doughty has already thrown for over 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. Should he throw for 358 yards against Old Dominion today, he'll break his own single-season record for passing yards in which he set during the 2013 season.
"I'm a senior, this is my last go-around," said Doughty. "I'm trying to fully commit myself week in and week out. I prepare for every opponent diligently and that definitely helps with my confidence."
His preparedness has been on display in every game this season, tossing at least two touchdowns and amassing at least 297 yards through the air in all six games entering Saturday. Doughty owns two of the Top 10 passing performances of the past decade of FBS football in terms of yards and holds two of the top four single-game passing games in Conference USA history halfway through WKU's inaugural journey through the league.
The kind of numbers Doughty is putting up typically come from quarterbacks touted as stars throughout their careers. Undoubtedly the headliner of one of the top offenses in the nation, Doughty hasn't always been the Hilltoppers' star. His success comes on the heels of perseverance.
Doughty came to the Hill from North Broward Prep in Davie, Fla., where he was rated as the nation's No. 75 quarterback coming out of high school. After redshirting during his first season at WKU in 2010, Doughty was thrust into the spotlight early in 2011.
With the Hilltoppers trailing Navy 33-7 on Sept. 10, 2011, Doughty took the reins under center and completed five passes for 70 yards in marching WKU to a touchdown. With such a spark in his first-career series, Doughty earned the starting nod the next week against Indiana State before tearing his ACL in the game's third play from scrimmage.
Four-year starter Kawaun Jakes departed following the 2012 season, leaving the starting quarterback position up for grabs entering the 2013 season. With a new regime in place, including Brohm's presence as offensive coordinator, Doughty battled his way back to the starting position with his accuracy and ability to grasp the offense.
After an inconsistent start to his 2013 campaign, Doughty closed impressively by leading WKU to four-straight wins, two of which required 80-yard game-winning drives in the fourth quarter. He flourished in his first year in Brohm's offensive scheme, setting WKU single-season records for passing yards (2,857) and completion percentage (65.8) while leading the Hilltoppers to an 8-4 record.
He's carried that momentum over into 2014 and enters the weekend ranked second nationally with 416.7 passing yards per game. Quarterbacks are often judged on their third-down performance and this season, few are better than Doughty. He's completed 44-of-69 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns on third down alone this season, coming in as one of two quarterbacks in the nation with over 500 yards and no interceptions on the crucial down.
Doughty's confidence has played a large role in his success, but he said Brohm's knowledge and teaching is as big of reason as any for an incredible start to 2014.
"Coach Brohm has played at the high level and he uses that when he coaches," said Doughty. "'He understands that plays aren't always perfect and that things happen in the game. He's helped me grow as a player and a man. He makes sure that his players understand that there is more going on in the world other than football. I have a high level of respect for Brohm."
Being tutored by a former NFL quarterback that has developed three other NFL quarterbacks has certainly helped Doughty along with his confidence, but as Doughty notes, it's nice when you have playmakers around too.
"When you have guys like Mitchell Henry, Jared Dangerfield, Willie McNeal and Antwane Grant - guys that want the ball in their hands, you know they're going to get open. That makes it easy for me to just play football."
