WR T.J. Vasher
It feels like Texas Tech fans have been waiting for junior wide receiver T.J. Vasher to break out in a big way since the moment he stepped on campus as a 4-star signee in 2016. But after redshirting that fall due to an injury and putting up solid but not spectacular seasons in the last two years, we are still waiting to see the 6-foot-5 athletic phenom live up to his tantalizing potential.
We’ve seen Vasher make circus catches that border on the impossible with what feels like as much regularity as he has made the routine plays. For example, his one-handed catch against Ole Miss in last year’s season opener was nominated for an ESPY Award for play of the year.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1036038563480133632
But if Vasher is going to move from being a 687-yard receiver with seven touchdowns as he was in 2018 to be an All-Conference player this fall, he’s going to have to master the intricacies of playing the position of receiver. Route running, catching the ball away from his body, blocking downfield, and making catches over the middle all have to become parts of his game that he improves significantly if he wants to be among the Big 12’s elite receivers.
After all, there is no other conference in the nation with more talent at receiver than the Big 12. The three receivers on the preseason team, CeeDee Lamb of OU, Tylan Wallace of Oklahoma State, and Jalen Reagor of TCU averaged 1,238 yards and 10.6 touchdowns last year.
That is three yards and three touchdowns fewer than Vasher has had thus far in his entire career. Still, there’s reason to believe that Vasher could be in for a huge year.
First of all, he will finally be Tech’s unquestioned alpha-dog at receiver. Having lost Wesley and JaDeion High (who finished second on the team last year in receptions), Tech has no receiver on the roster outside of Vasher who had more yards last year than the 317 that Seth Collins amassed.
It is time for Vasher to become an all-around dominant receiver. If new wide receiver’s coach Joel Filani (himself an All-Big 12 receiver for the Red Raiders in 2006) can help Vasher become more consistent and focused, it would not be surprising to see Tech’s most talented receiver earn all-conference honors this fall.