Francis Owusu produces one of the best touchdown catches in college football history

EVEN if you are not a fan of American football, you can’t help but admire the ridiculous skill it takes to make a catch like this.

PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 15: Francis Owusu #6 of the Stanford Cardinal's catches a touchdown pass up against the back of Jaleel Wadood #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the third quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on October 15, 2015 in Stanford, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

AMERICAN football has a habit of producing ridiculously skilled athletes, some so talented that a rampaging defender is seen as nothing but a minor interference.

Such was the case for Stanford University Cardinal wide receiver Francis Owusu.

His team were leading UCLA Bruins 36-17 in their Thursday night college football outing at Stanford Stadium, when quarterback Kevin Hogan threw a 50-yard pass to a heavily-defended Owusu.

When it looked as though the ball would be knocked down by the defender, Owusu did the unthinkable and caught the ball behind the back of the opposition player, mid-embrace.

Francis Owusu with what might be the greatest catch in #Stanford history: pic.twitter.com/LdG2SIVqKu

— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) October 16, 2015

Commentators described the catch as “utterly incredible”, amazed by the wide receivers freakish hands.

“Did he just catch that pinned against the defender’s back?” one commentator exclaimed.

“That is utterly incredible.”

Following a late surge from the Bruins, Stanford went on to beat UCLA 56-35.

Owusu’s incredible display has grabbed the attention of college football fans on Twitter, with some labelling it the “catch of the year”, while one fan even claimed it as the “greatest catch he’s ever seen in his life”.

Stanford's Francis Owusu caught a TD pass on the back of UCLA DB Jaleel Wadood's back. Wow. Everything coming up Millhouse. 42-17.

— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) October 16, 2015

Francis Owusu of @StanfordFball with the best football catch I've ever seen in my life. No exaggeration. Absolutely destroying UCLA.

— Mike Dudas (@mdudas) October 16, 2015

Francis Owusu caught a diving touchdown pass...reaching around his opponent's back. No doubt the play of the year.

— Jacob Freedman (@Jacob_Freedman) October 16, 2015

Oh my god, Francis Owusu. That catch is out of this world. You've made Chris Owusu irrelevant. You're king of the Owusus now.

— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) October 16, 2015

Unbelievable catch by Francis Owusu. My goodness. TD, Stanford. The rout is on. #GoStanford

— Donald King (@dbking65) October 16, 2015

Sports Center compared the take to that of Tyrone Prothro, who received an award for best play at the 2006 ESPY Awards after making a similar catch behind the head of a defender.

The former University of Alabama wide receiver caught the ball just short of his end zone, behind the head of Southern Mississippi’s Jasper Faulk just before half time. The play proved a pivotal in leading his side to victory.

Tyrone Prothro vs Francis Owusu. Who did it better? https://t.co/7TDITsAQsI

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2015

If Joe Tess remembers Tyrone Prothro 10 years later, then Francis Owusu just signed his name into CFB history. In ink. #UCLAvsSTAN

— Ivan Maisel (@Ivan_Maisel) October 16, 2015

Francis Owusu joins Tyrone Prothro as the only college football players to EVER make that catch. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

— Walker Carey (@walkerRcarey) October 16, 2015

Francis Owusu with a tip of the cap to Tyrone Prothro. Nuts.

— Chris Courtney (@csquared02) October 16, 2015