Texas Tech football: Antoine Wesley invited to NFL combine

Texas Tech wide receiver Antoine Wesley has received an official invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

At this time last year, most Texas Tech football fans knew little (if anything) about Antoine Wesley. In fact, the average fan likely did not even know he was on the roster. But after a breakout junior season, the former Red Raider wide receiver is foregoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. And Thursday, he shared the news that he has received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine.

Wesley had one of the most remarkable seasons in Texas Tech history this fall, especially considering the fact that he had done virtually nothing in his first two seasons on campus. Entering 2018, the former 3-star recruit had registered just 10 receptions for 137 yards and no touchdowns in seven career games.

Part of the reason for that was that he had been buried on the depth chart behind players such as Dylan Cantrell, Derrick Willies and T.J. Vasher. He also struggled to find a place on the offense as he was repeatedly moved back and forth from inside to outside receiver.

https://twitter.com/antoine_wesley/status/1091025668794695680

But finally in 2018, he was given a spot and he made the most of his opportunity. He caught 88 passes for 1,410 yards and nine touchdowns in one of the most impressive seasons in program history. His yardage total ranks third in Texas Tech football history for a single season behind only Michael Crabtree’s 1,962 in 2007 and Keke Coutee’s 1,429 in 2017.

And in week-three against Houston, he had 13 catches for a Texas Tech record 261 yards to go along with three touchdowns. That broke the previous record which belonged to Joel Filani who had 255 yards in 2005 against Kansas State.

What’s more, considering the chaos that the 2018 Red Raiders had to endure at the quarterback position, Wesley’s season stands out even further. Tech had to start three different players at QB this year including Jett Duffey (who had a serious knee injury) in the Kansas State game and McLane Carter (who was still hobbled by a high ankle sprain) in the season finale against Baylor. In those games, the Tech passing attack was virtually non-existent as Wesley caught just 10 passes for 63 yards preventing him from passing Coutee.

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Now, he will have an opportunity to make an impact at the NFL Combine just like Coutee did a year ago when he too skipped his senior season for the NFL Draft. And it looks as if Wesley is an intriguing prospect in the eyes of many scouts.

Brad Kelley of The Draft Network sees Wesley as a hidden gem in this class. He lauds Wesley’s body control and ability to make plays on the ball in the air.

Likewise, Rick Serritella of Football Maven is also high on Wesley as a prospect. He compares Wesley to former NFL Pro Bowl receiver Plaxico Burress.

Wesley will have to convince NFL teams that his 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame is strong enough to withstand the rigors of a 16-game NFL season. Likewise, some question whether he is physically strong enough to beat press coverage at the next level. Still others are leery about the fact that he had only one season of productivity in college.

The Las Vegas native is considered by some to be as high as the 8th-best receiver in this year’s draft and the No. 58 overall prospect which would make him a potential late second or early third round pick. Of course, much will change before April’s draft so where he eventually lands in the draft is anyone’s guess. But certainly, Texas Tech football fans are hoping Wesley turns some heads in Indianapolis the way he did this season in Lubbock.