Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: Don’t forget about WR Seth Collins in 2020

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Seth Collins #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the sidelines during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 48-16. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Seth Collins #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on the sidelines during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 48-16. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

As we cautiously look forward to the 2020 Texas Tech football season, don’t forget about senior WR Seth Collins, who could provide some quality depth on the outside.

The world of sports is dominated by the “what have you done for me lately?” mindset.  Thus, many Texas Tech football fans may not be thinking much about what senior WR Seth Collins could give the Red Raiders this season.  In fact, many may not even realize he is still on the roster.

The former transfer from Oregon State missed all of last year due to a shattered collar bone sustained in spring practice.  It had to be frustrating for California native after he battled numerous injuries and illnesses prior to coming to Lubbock including a broken finger, mononucleosis, and bacterial meningitis.

But that doesn’t mean he can’t help the 2020 team.  After all, he has 865 receiving yards, 80 catches, and 4 TDs to his name.  That’s more than any Red Raider outside receiver not named T.J. Vasher.

Though he likely won’t be in the mix for a starting job, he could be asked to be a key backup behind either Vasher or redshirt sophomore Erik Ezukanma, who led the team with 664 yards in 2019.  And we saw last fall how an overlooked senior can play a huge role at receiver.

When the season began, almost no one was talking about grad transfer wideout R.J. Turner from Louisiana Monroe.  And even early in the season, Turner was not much of a factor as he had just nine receptions in the first five games of the year.

But in week six against Baylor, he caught seven passes for 138 yards, and a week later against Iowa State, he hauled in 11 balls for 76 yards.  He would end the year with a team-high 45 receptions despite his slow start.

More from Wreck'Em Red

It wouldn’t be a shock to see Collins also get off to a bit of a slow start as he works his way back after nearly two calendar years away from live action.  But don’t overlook the potential impact Collins could make, especially if an injury occurs or if Vasher has another off-field misstep that causes him to miss multiple games (after all, we saw that exact same scenario unfold last fall).

Of course, the six-year senior will also have to fend off some young talent for playing time.  This year, the Red Raiders will be giving plenty of opportunities to true freshmen Loic Fouonji (a 4-star signee) and Ja’Lynn Polk, the No. 65 player in Texas in his recruiting class.

Still, having a solid senior with the type of experience at WR that Collins has.  Moving back outside, where he played at Oregon State after moving over from QB, should suit the 6-foot-3 pass-catcher better than the slot where he played in 2018 when he caught 32 passes for 317 yards and 2 TDs.

dark. Next. Texas Tech football: The all-decade WRs

Often times, it is a player that fans have counted out or completely forgotten about who comes up huge for his team.  Don’t be surprised if that proves to be Seth Collins this season.

Home/Texas Tech Football