Texas Tech Wide Receivers: Depth and high expectations

Nov 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Keke Coutee (20) and wide receiver Dylan Cantrell (14) celebrate a touchdown against the Baylor Bears in the second half at AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Keke Coutee (20) and wide receiver Dylan Cantrell (14) celebrate a touchdown against the Baylor Bears in the second half at AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Tech wide receivers could have an explosive 2017 season, but with heightened responsibilities, come higher expectations.

Texas Tech’s offense has been one of the most explosive units since Kliff Kingsbury reinstalled the Air Raid when he was hired. Despite losing Patrick Mahomes to the NFL, and losing a few players at the receiver position, if there’s one layer to the Texas Tech arsenal where there’s little concern, its at receiver.

However, that confidence brings a level of responsibility never before seen, primarily because of the quarterback situation.

When Giles didn’t appear on the Spring Ball depth chart, it became pretty obvious the race to see who Texas Tech’s next leading receiver would be an open battle. With Keke Coutee, Dylan Cantrell, Cameron Batson, and Derrick Willies emerging as the favorites, you have to imagine the chemistry between Shimonek and the receiving corps has to be clicking, especially considering how much youth there is at the position.

Texas Tech has fifteen wide receivers on its roster right now, so if anyone is concerned with depth, it’s safe to say Tech is covered heading into 2017.

Sophomore WR Keke Coutee had 55 catches for 890 receiving yards in 2016, despite having former 1,000 yard receiver Jonathan Giles in the lineup. With Giles taking a production hit midway through last year, and transferring to LSU, that paves the way for Coutee to have a monster season.

Coutee had some unstable numbers last season, in terms of production, but in Tech’s 54-35 victory over Baylor to end the season, he had 221 yards and two touchdowns. It marked his fourth game that season where he had over 100 receiving yards, and that put him in the realm of possibilities to emerge as Tech’s go-to guy in 2017.

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Next in line for 1,000 yards is senior receiver Dylan Cantrell, who had 58 catches for 675 yards, and eight touchdowns last season. Cantrell has been applauded by Texas Tech coaches since last year as being one of the most improved, and motivated guys in the program.

I expect to see a lot of Cantrell’s production to be in the Red Zone. His size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) makes him both competitive against defensive backs, but big enough to pick up yards after catches.

At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, junior Derrick Willies fits into that size competition well, too, so I anticipate they’ll both be utilized inside the twenty whenever possible.

The coaching staff has been very high on junior Cameron Batson, who, at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds is the smallest of the four, but as we know, Kingsbury lives for moments when smaller players can be molded into elusive, high production anomalies. If Batson can continue adding strength, and getting faster cutting across the field, there’s no reason he can’t be used as a versatile player this season.

This could be a challenge, however, in that quarterback Nik Shimonek will be at the helm in 2017, and aside from a few games last season, his capabilities are relatively unknown. On the other hand, if Kingsbury didn’t feel as if Shimonek earned the starting job, he wouldn’t be the starter.

Shimonek’s age, diligence, and the fact that he’s spent the past few seasons learning from a Top 10 NFL Draft pick, and one of the best offensive minded coaches in all of college football makes him ideal to lead the Texas Tech offense.

While it’s entirely possible Tech could produce multiple thousand yard receivers this upcoming season, it’s going to be up to the offensive line to make that production a possibility. Tech can’t afford to take a hit at QB, and that is foreign territory.