Veteran receivers finally get their shot to lead Texas Tech offense

Last Saturday, a number of veteran receivers finally got an opportunity to play staring roles for the Texas Tech football team and their development will be a key in 2018.

Texas Tech football has become known as “wide receiver U” during the “Air Raid” era. But this year’s group of receivers is one of the most unique in program history.

After losing three starters from last year and with no superstar receivers left on the roster, head coach Kliff Kingsbury is having to depend on a group of upperclassmen who are playing significant roles in the offense for the first time in their collegiate careers.

Team captain and sixth-year senior Ja’Deion High had a solid day with 4 receptions and caught the team’s only touchdown pass, a 14-yard reception from Alan Bowman in the second quarter. High finished third on the team with 62 yards, averaging over 15 yards per reception.

It was a nice performance for the former walk-on from Hereford, Texas who has had to pay his dues before getting an opportunity to play. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2013, High saw action in only four games as a special teams contributor in 2014.

His role was expanded in 2015 when, as a sophomore, he played in eight games (starting five) making 8 catches for 111 yards. But just as he was set to be a major contributor as a junior in 2016, an injury ended his season after just three games.

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High returned in 2017 but was buried on the depth chart behind a veteran group of receivers that sent four players to NFL training camps. He finished last year with seven receptions for 58 yards to bring his career totals to 25 receptions for 285 yards and two scores.

But this season, he is being looked to by the Texas Tech coaching staff for leadership both in the locker room and on the field. His presence on offense will be critical for a team that may have to rely on true freshman QB Alan Bowman if McLane Carter’s ankle injury keeps him out of action for a significant amount of time.

Speaking of players who have had to overcome adversity at Texas Tech, senior inside receiver Zach Austin also got the start against Ole Miss. It was just the second career start for the Austin product who missed the previous two seasons due to injury.

Austin has played in only seven games as a Red Raider as he has struggled to stay healthy. But when he has been on the field, he has been productive. His best game thus far came in 2015 when he had 8 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown against Baylor. Starting at inside receiver against Ole Miss, Austin had three receptions for 37 yards.

Another veteran finally getting a shot to play is junior Antoine Wesley. With 6 receptions against Ole Miss, he was the team’s most targeted receiver. His 65 yards on the day were one off the pace set by the team’s leading receiver, T.J. Vahser.

The 6-foot-5 native of Las Vegas who played his high school football in Cibolo, Texas, appeared in all 13 games last year catching 10 passes for 137 yards. But getting the start at outside receiver opposite of Vasher in week-one was a huge step forward for a player with no career starts.

"“I thought Antoine, De’Quan [Bowman], having Zach [Austin] back, having [Ja’Deion] High back, it was good to see. They’ve all waited a long time to play.” Kingsbury said Tuesday. “That group that just graduated, they are all on NFL rosters and kinda shows you what they were behind. But I thought they held their own and will just get better and better.”"

And that group must get better. While they had a decent first outing, one of these veteran receivers must emerge as a viable second option behind Vasher. With defenses likely to send two defenders to Vasher on most plays, the other receivers in the formation will see plenty of one-on-one coverage and their ability to win those matchups will go a long way in determining how well the offense moves the ball.

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It feels odd to discuss the development of juniors and seniors, especially those that have been in the program for more than four years. But such development will be one of the keys to the 2018 season because behind these veteran receivers, the Texas Tech receiving corps is alarmingly young. Here’s hoping this group of veterans can make the most of their long-awaited opportunities.

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