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Texas Tech football: The 10 best seasons by a RB in “Air Raid” era

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 26: DeAndre Washington #21 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the ball for yardage against the TCU Horned Frogs on September 26, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. TCU won the game 55-52. Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 26: DeAndre Washington #21 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs the ball for yardage against the TCU Horned Frogs on September 26, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. TCU won the game 55-52. Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot “Masked Rider” leads the Texas Tech Red Raiders onto the field. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot “Masked Rider” leads the Texas Tech Red Raiders onto the field. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

No. 6: Henderson 2002

Taurean Henderson took no time to make his presence known in the Big 12.  As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he broke out of the gates with 1,426 total yards and 13 TDs.

Setting the NCAA record for receptions by a freshman regardless of position with 98, he also set the school record for total yards by a freshman.  The fact that 663 of his yards and 6 TDs came via the passing game was an indication of just how impactful that position could be in Leach’s “Air Raid” offense.

Leach saw the running game as a nuisance.  That’s why nearly 39% of Henderson’s touches that year came as a result of Kliff Kingsbury‘s right arm.

Thus, it shouldn’t be surprising to see that Henderson had a 100-yard receiving game that year.  It was equal to the number of 100-yard rushing games he had.

That receiving performance came against Oklahoma State in Lubbock when he had 101 yards on 7 catches.  His 100-yard game on the ground came against N.C. State when he galloped for 144 yards and two TDs in a loss to Phillip Rivers and the Wolfpack.

Two weeks later, he had 107 total yards from scrimmage in a win over Texas A&M.  That began a string of 7-straight games over the century mark in a season that was one of the best of the Leach era.

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