Pressure nothing new for Koz's kid

PROVO — With a name like Kozlowski in the BYU football program, there's bound to be sizable expectations.

Tyler Kozlowski, the son of former Cougar All-America wide receiver Glen Kozlowski, knows that reality, and he embraces it. Pressure?

What pressure?

"It's more of an honor to be recognized as Glen Kozlowski's son," he said. "I don't really think of it as pressure."

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound redshirt freshman wide receiver from Wildwood, Ill., certainly plays like a Kozlowski — throwing his body all over the field, latching on to passes.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make the catch," Kozlowski said. "I know I have big shoes to fill with my dad and my last name. I'm just trying to make my own name for myself. I'll do whatever the coaches ask. I'm a walk-on, so I'll do whatever they say."

With receivers Michael Reed and Ryan Neeley missing time recently due to injuries, and with Austin Collie and Matt Allen sitting out of contract drills Tuesday as a precautionary measure, Kozlowski has made the most of his opportunity to play. He hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Max Hall during an 11-on-11 drill Tuesday.

Kozlowski, who redshirted last season following an LDS mission to Brazil, began fall camp as a defensive back but was soon switched to wide receiver, the same position that made his dad famous in Provo from 1981-85.

Glen Kozlowski is No. 8 in school history in career receiving yardage (2,223), and he was a key player on the 1984 national championship team.

Though Tyler wasn't born until after his dad's college career was completed, he's well aware of his dad's accomplishments.

"It's always been my dream to come to BYU, since I was a little kid watching my dad's highlights," he said. "Now that he's getting older, he's kind of fallen back on the glory days. When I go home over Christmas, every day he'll pop in the highlight tape and say, 'Watch this catch, son."'

Tyler learned how to play the game from his dad. "He's been my coach. This is the first time ever not having my dad as the head coach," he said. "He taught me the fundamentals and techniques. He just gave me that passion, I guess. I'm fortunate to have that family name and the instinct and fire for football. Everything I know and do is because of my dad."

Like his father, Tyler is a fiery competitor.