Earth-abundant　transition　metal　cocatalysts　are　promising　rare　and　noble　metal　alternatives　for　efficient　photocatalytic　hydrogen　evolution.　Herein,　a　novel　composite　of　ZIF-67　derived　CoOx　nanodots　confined　in　a　N,　S　co-doped　graphitic　nanosheet　co-catalyst　(CoOx@N,　S-C)　was　successfully　constructed　via　a　one　pot　carbonization　process.　Through　loading　onto　photosensitizer　of　CdS　nanorods,　the　obtained　CoOx@N,　S-C/CdS　composite　exhibited　an　unprecedented　H2　production　rate　of　40.1　mmol　g-1　h-1,　which　is　57,　20　and　1.7　times　higher　than　that　of　CdS,　N,　S-C/CdS　and　CoOx/CdS,　respectively.　It　was　demonstrated　that　the　excellent　photocatalytic　H2　production　performance　arises　from　the　synergetic　effect　between　the　confined　ultrafine　CoOx　nanodots　and　N,　S　heteroatom　co-doped　graphitic　carbon.　This　work　shows　considerable　improvements　over　MOF　derived　materials　as　non-noble　cocatalysts　and　provides　significant　motivation　for　new　photocatalyst　development　for　improving　the　conversion　efficiency　of　solar　energy　to　chemical　fuels.　©　2020　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.