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Texas Tech football: The best one-hit-wonders in Red Raider history

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: The Will Rogers and Soapsuds statue is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: The Will Rogers and Soapsuds statue is pictured before the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Jace Amaro #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Jace Amaro #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Though Matt Wells has brought the tight end position back to Texas Tech football, we aren’t likely to see another the caliber of former Red Raider Jace Amaro anytime soon.

Able to run like a wide receiver despite being 265 pounds, the 6-foot-5 San Antonio native was a monster at Tech but only for one year.

That’s because a lacerated spleen interrupted what was shaping up to be a promising sophomore season in 2012 as he finished with just 409 yards and 4 TDs on 25 catches.  But he returned with a vengeance in 2013.

Bringing in 106 catches for 1,352 yards and seven TDs, Amaro earned unanimous All-American Honors as a junior.  His single-season totals for catches and yards rank third and fourth respectively in program history.

Amaro was the ultimate matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.  Large enough and strong enough to overpower defensive backs and fast enough to run away from linebackers, he redefined what a slot receiver at Texas Tech could be.

Prior to his arrival as well as in the years since his time the Red Raiders have had typical slot receivers like Wes Welker, Coutee, Danny Amendola, and Jakeem Grant who were all undersized.  But now, Wells and his offensive coordinator David Yost have brought the tight end position back into play on the South Plains.  In fact, in recent weeks, Tech has landed commitments from two high school TEs that are taller than Amaro and who could eventually fill out to be heavier as well.

But it will be tough for any TE to match what Amaro was able to do in 2013.  Hopefully, at least one comes close to being the player that he was but we also have to hope that they stick around for four full years.

Of course, Amaro decided to go pro instead of returning for his senior year, a move that turned out not to be in his best interest.  Initially, it was a logical move as he was taken in the second round by the New York Jets.

However, the fact that the Jets were incompetent when it came to putting together an offensive system and that they had no quality QBs to get the ball to Amaro, he never broke out.  Then, injuries and inconsistencies took their toll and he’s now out of the league.  However, we will never forget the 2013 season he had, which was one of the best in school history and one against which every future Texas Tech tight end will be measured against.

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