Texas Tech Football: Five New Faces To Know For 2018
WR Seth Collins
Another graduate transfer expected to be a factor this fall is receiver Seth Collins, who transferred from Oregon State where he was beset by numerous injuries over the past year. But now, Collins is looking for a fresh start at Texas Tech and he could be arriving at the perfect time for both he and the program.
With Tech searching to replace 241 receptions 3,036 yards and 25 touchdowns from the losses of Keke Coutee, Dylan Cantrell, Cam Batson and Derrick Willies, the four starting receivers in last year’s opener, an experienced receiver like Collins could be critical in helping the offense retool on the fly.
Over the past two seasons, Collins has put up 548 yards and two touchdowns on 48 receptions. The former quarterback has the size, 6-foot-3, 191-pounds, to play on the outside while also possessing the quickness and elusiveness to be a weapon from the slot.
Though Collins was originally considered a graduate transfer with only one year of eligibility remaining, the NCAA recently restored another year of his eligibility meaning he could be a longer-term solution at receiver for Texas Tech.
Derailed by bacterial meningitis, a broken finger and mononucleosis in his career, Collins has missed 14 games in the past two years. But he is excited for a new opportunity in Lubbock where, surprisingly, he favors the West Texas weather to that of the Pacific Northwest.
"“The environment, the weather, the temperature — all that in Corvallis, Oregon — it wasn’t good for my immune system and all that, so health-wise it wasn’t good for me to be there,” he told the Avalanche-Journal."
Collins looks like he could be a nice addition at outside receiver opposite of T.J. Vasher adding another explosive weapon for Kingsbury to utilize in the vertical passing game. He will have to beat out returning veteran Antoine Wesley and true freshmen Myller Royals and Erik Ezukanma but do not be surprised to see this newcomer become a go-to member of the offense this fall.