Texas Tech Recruiting: Players That Exceeded Expectations
Nov 15, 2014; Lubbock, TX, USA; Detail of the Jones AT&T Stadium Logo at the game between Oklahoma and Texas Tech at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Joel Filani
This two-star recruit from Phoenix, AZ received only three scholarship offers out of high school (none from his home state schools). Fortunately, one of those offers came from Texas Tech. Filani became a big-play threat in the Air Raid offense, and was selected 1st Team All-Conference in both his junior and senior campaigns.
While at Tech, the lanky wide receiver caught 175 passes for 2,626-yards (an impressive 15 yards-per-catch) and 23 TD’s. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in round 6 of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Filani is most remembered for this game-breaking play in the 2004 Holiday Bowl as Texas Tech pulled of an upset of the No. 4 ranked Cal Bears and their QB Aaron Rogers. With Tech up 24-14 early in the 3rd quarter, Sunny Cumbie hit Filani on a post route for a TD that put the Red Raiders up 17 points and broke the spirit of the Cal Bears. The 60-yard score put Tech up three scores and broke the will of the No. 4 Golden Bears.
This Holiday Bowl victory was the high point of the Leach tenure thus far.