Texas Tech football: The all-time Red Raider NFL offense

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Lem Barney #20 of the Detroit Lions breaks up a pass to Dave Parks #81 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

WR: Dave Parks, Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker, Danny Amendola

There’s no position where the Texas Tech football program has made more of an impact in the NFL than receiver, which makes sense given Tech’s role in the spread offense revolution. But long before the “Air Raid” came to Lubbock, a Red Raider pass-catcher was turning heads in the NFL.

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Though he has his name in the Texas Tech football Ring of Honor, many fans may not know all that much about Dave Parks given that his career ended nearly half-a-century ago. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft played 10 years with San Francisco, New Orleans, and Houston (1964-73).

With 360 career receptions, 5,619 receiving yards, a 15.6-yard average, and 44 touchdowns, he was a very productive receiver (who also played some tight end) in an era when the ball stayed on the ground most of the time. A three-time Pro Bowl selection (1965-67) and two-time All-Pro (1965, 1966) he led the NFL in catches, yards, and receiving TDs in 1965.

Opposite of Parks is a player who will one day join him in the Ring of Honor at Jones Stadium, Michael Crabtree. The two-time Biletnikoff Award winner at Tech made 633 catches for 7,477 yards and 54 TDs over the course of his 10-year career, which unofficially ended in 2019 after he was released by Kliff Kingsbury and the Arizona Cardinals early in the season.

Moving into the slot, there are two obvious choices to fill out this offense and neither was drafted. It begins with the player that created the modern-day role of inside receiver that has now become mandatory for every team to devote resources to.

Wes Welker went from an undrafted player in 2004 to a legend who redefined what an undersized receiver can do in the NFL. The five-time Pro Bowler ended his career with 903 receptions for 9,924 yards and 50 touchdowns. In 2009 with New England, he amassed 123 catches, the second-highest single-season total in NFL history.

Another Red Raider slot receiver who made his name with the Patriots is Danny Amendola. The 11-year pro who played 2019 with the Detroit Lions has 547 career catches for 5,362 yards and 21 touchdowns after being undrafted in 2009.

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The strengths of this Red Raider all-time NFL offense would be unquestionable. With Pat Mahomes slinging the ball around to Welker and Amendola, it would be one of the most entertaining offenses imaginable. But the question would be whether or not the offensive line would be able to keep Mahomes upright.

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