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Texas Tech football: Candidates to fill void left by Antoine Wesley

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Antoine Wesley #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the sidelines during the 4th quarter of the game against the Houston Cougars on September 15, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 63-49. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Antoine Wesley #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the sidelines during the 4th quarter of the game against the Houston Cougars on September 15, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 63-49. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Erik Ezukanma

The most obvious choice to step into Wesley’s role is former 4-star signee Erik Ezukanma.  The highest-rated recruit in the 2018 class played in only two games this year so he will be a redshirt freshman next season.

The native of Ft. Worth, Texas caught two passes for 48 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman.  He displayed his big play potential by hauling in a 44-yard touchdown reception in Texas Tech’s 77-0 win over Lamar in week two.

But he did not play again after that game as Wesley emerged as the team’s top receiver and as such, never came off the field.

Though his first season was not one for the record books, Ezukanma’s high school pedigree suggests he has the potential to be a star.  At Timber Creek High School, he caught 32 touchdown passes while racking up 2,471 yards in three seasons.

He was rated a top-50 prospect in Texas and the No. 53 receiver in the nation coming out of high school.  Including Texas Tech, he held offers from Arkansas, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, SMU, TCU, Texas A&M, Utah, Washington State and Wisconsin.

At 6-foot-3, he is another big receiver that can create mismatches on the outside.  But at just 180-pounds, he could stand to put on more muscle in order to ensure that he can stay healthy.

Ezukanma was brought in to eventually be a lead receiver but we thought that his ascension to the throne would not occur this soon.  However, he is one of the best wide receiver recruits that Kliff Kignsbury landed in his time at Texas Tech and he gives the new coaching staff a potential star in the making to step in for Wesley next season.

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