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Texas Tech football: Ranking the 10 best QB seasons of “Air Raid” era

By Matthew Conner

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes II #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warming up before 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 warming up before 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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Quarterback Graham Harrell #6 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown with teammate Michael Crabtree #5, (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Quarterback Graham Harrell #6 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown with teammate Michael Crabtree #5, (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Harrell in 2007

Graham Harrell’s second season as the starter for Leach was actually his best from a yardage and touchdowns standpoint.  He threw for 5,705 yards, 48 TDs, and 14 picks while leading the nation’s youngest team to a 9-4 record and a win in the Gator Bowl.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that he had a redshirt freshman named Michael Crabtree to team up with.  Together, that duo lit the NCAA on fire as Crabtree set a college football record for receiving yards by a freshman with 1,962 to go along with 22 TDs.  In other words, 34.3% of Harrell’s yards and 45.8% of his TDs went to Crabtree.

Also impressive was the fact that Harrell completed 71.8% of his 713 passes.  And like Kingsbury in 2002, who threw one less pass than Harrell did in 2007, the Ennis native took home the Sammy Baugh Trophy.  He was also named a second-team All-Big 12 honoree.

Amazingly, in all 13 games, Harrell threw for no fewer than 338 yards.  What’s more, he had 11 games over 400 yards.

His best statistical day came in a shootout loss to Oklahoma State in Stillwater.  That afternoon he threw for 646 yards and 5 TDs but he should have had a sixth.  Unfortunately, Crabtree dropped what would have been the game-winning TD in the final minute on fourth down.

However, it was that game against Virginia in the Gator Bowl that was so massive.  With his team down 14 points in the final quarter, Harrell helped rattle off 17 points to sneak out a win in a game that the Cavilers had controlled throughout.  That win helped set Tech up with a top-15 ranking the next season and as we will see next, that year proved to be rather magical.

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