Wreck'Em Red
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Texas Tech football: The all-time Red Raider team from the rest of Texas

By Matthew Conner

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes II #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders interacts with fans after the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes II #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders interacts with fans after the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

WR: Jace Amaro, Eric Ward, Keke Coutee, Detron Lewis

The receiving corps on this team would feature two of the most dynamic slot receivers and two of the most steady and physical outside receivers in Tech history.  With Jace Amaro and Keke Coutee in the slot and Eric Ward and Detron Lewis on the outside, the rest of Texas offense would have one of the most complete and versatile groups of pass-catchers imaginable.

San Antonio’s Amaro was one of the only tight ends of the “Air Raid” era but the 6-foot-2, 260-pound freak had a game that looked more like a wide receiver’s.  Able to run like a deer, he caught 138 passes for 1,818 yards and 13 touchdowns from 2011-13, numbers that would have been far greater had he not left early for the NFL and had his sophomore season not been interrupted by a lacerated spleen.  In 2013 he was named a first-team All-American, the last Red Raider to garner such honors.

At the other slot would be another player who skipped his senior season to join the NFL.  After putting up 1,429 yards (2nd-most in Tech history) and 10 touchdowns in 2017, Lufkin’s Keke Coutee earned second-team All-Big 12 honors before entering the draft.

For his career, the big-play receiver caught 159 passes for 2,424 yards and 17 touchdowns.  Unlike the traditional Red Raider inside receiver, Coutee had the speed to beat defenses deep as evidenced by his average of 15.2 yards per reception.

On the outside, would be Wichita Falls native Eric Ward.  The 6-foot, 205-pounder chose Tech over Oklahoma because Tech’s dorms opened a week earlier and he was homeless at the time.

From 2010-2013, he had 255 career receptions for 2,863 yards and 31 touchdowns.  He and Michael Crabtree are the only two players to rank among the top five in Texas Tech history in career receptions, career receiving yards and career touchdown receptions.

Rounding out this receiving corps would be Detron Lewis who made the best decision of his life and left College Station in 2007.   He ranks 8th in career receiving yards (2,729) and 5th in career receptions (238).  Though he never had a 1,00-yard season, he is one of only two players in Tech history (along with Eric Ward) to have three seasons of 800 or more yards.

This is a foursome in which the pieces fit together especially well.  With Coutee and Amaro in the slot, this team would have a possession receiver and a home run threat in the middle of the field.  And on the outside, Ward and Lewis would be pillars of productivity who were as tough as any receivers to call Jones Stadium home.

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