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Texas Tech football: The top Red Raider from each season of the Big 12 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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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 10: Antoine Wesley #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas defeated Texas Tech 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 10: Antoine Wesley #4 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Texas defeated Texas Tech 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

2018: Antoine Wesley

There was a moment in 2018 when it appeared like Antoine Wesley was destined to surpass Coutee’s receiving total to sit at No. 2 on the Red Raider all-time list for a single season.  But injuries at the QB position prevented that from happening.

Still, it remains remarkable that he was able to finish that season with 1,410 yards and 9 TDs.  That’s because that season, Tech had to start three different QBs (Alan Bowman, McLane Carter, and Jett Duffey) for multiple games.  That’s not a recipe for success for a receiver but it didn’t slow down Wesley.

Wesley’s catch total was just 88.  But because he averaged an insane 16 yards per catch, he was able to make the most of almost every reception.  That was truly shocking for a player who entered the season with just 10 receptions in his career.

Perhaps the biggest change for Wesley was that he moved from inside to outside receiver prior to that year.  There he was able to use his lanky 6-foot-3 frame to make plays downfield.

His marquee performance came in week three against a feisty Houston team.  That afternoon, he set a Texas Tech single-game record with 261 yards to go along with 3 TDs as Tech outgunned the Cougars.

He nearly had another 200-yard game when he came up just a yard shy of that mark in a home loss to Oklahoma.  In that game, he had to adjust to a new QB after halftime as Duffey had to step in for an injured Bowman. Still, Wesley could not be slowed down.

But when Duffey was injured in the second-to-last game of the year at Kansas State, the Red Raider offense went into neutral.  With the also banged up McLane Carter having to take the reins, Tech was unable to get the ball to Wesley and he had just 63 yards in his final two contests as a Red Raider.

Still, this was a remarkable season for the junior and it earned him second-team All-Big 12 honors as well as recognition as a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.  And he did it all despite a revolving door at QB.

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