Mark Simmons caught six passes for 152 yards and a touchdown in Kansas University’s 50-47 overtime loss last Saturday at Colorado.

Picking one reception from the sophomore’s highlight-reel game would be difficult, but reporters asked him to try anyway.

“It’s hard to say,” Simmons said. “I’m not one to brag on myself, but I guess the one I caught with one hand. I was pretty amazed. I don’t even know how I caught it. I seemed like the ball just fell in my pocket. How I held on I don’t know. It was a good throw in a good spot.”

The game was tied at 38 when Simmons hauled in a 47-yard bomb from senior quarterback Bill Whittemore on the first play of the fourth quarter. Colorado cornerback Sammy Joseph grabbed Simmons’ right arm and was flagged for pass interference, but Simmons grabbed the ball with his left arm while being knocked off his feet by Joseph.

The catch gave Kansas a first down at Colorado’s 25, but the drive stalled at the 23 and junior Johnny Beck missed a 40-yard field goal that would have given Kansas the lead.

The Texan’s next three catches were more productive. On the Jayhawks’ next drive, Simmons caught up to a ball that was overthrown by Whittemore and made a finger-tip grab on CU’s sideline for a 34-yard gain to the Buffs’ 22.

He later made a 15-yard reception to the six, and three plays later made a diving catch in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown — his fifth in six games.

“He’s a heck of a receiver,” Whittemore said. “He’s getting better as we go a long. He wants the ball in his hands, and when he gets that opportunity he takes advantage of it very well.”

Simmons (5-foot-11) had made another acrobatic catch in the first half when he jumped over CU cornerback Phil Jackson (6-1) for a 38-yard gain.

“I saw (Whittemore) looking my way, and I knew I had a chance to make the play,” Simmons said. “I tried to jump before (Jackson) and get up on top of his head and come down with the ball. When I realized I had the ball, I got kind of happy. I don’t know how high I can jump, but I was up there. It was a timing, issue, and I timed it pretty well.”

The catch helped set up Whittemore’s eight-yard TD run.

Simmons, who caught 23 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown last season, has 21 receptions for 542 yards through six games.

The DeSoto, Texas, product originally committed to Oklahoma State before changing his mind.

“Kansas kept calling,” he said. “I didn’t know why, but I know why now. They saw something in me in this offense.”

Simmons ranks seventh in the Big 12 with an average of 90.3 receiving yards per game.

“To tell you the truth, I’m disappointed,” he said. “I feel I can do better.”