Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech football: 5 best-case scenarios for 2020

By Matthew Conner

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown defended by Davante Davis #18 of the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders catches a pass for a touchdown defended by Davante Davis #18 of the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Wide receiver T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the first half of the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Wide receiver T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the first half of the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Vasher puts it all together

If Tech’s offense is going to be as explosive in 2020 as we think it could be, senior WR T.J. Vasher will need to put everything together for the first time in his career.  We’ve been waiting for that to happen for three seasons and for many fans, patience is growing thin.

What’s more, skepticism about Vasher remains high given that he missed several weeks of fall camp to focus on academics.  Fortunately, he’s back with the team, and there looks to be some hope that this will be his finest season.

The question is not Vasher’s talent.  Rather, it is what is between his ears.

Thus far, inconsistent play, minor off-field concerns, and trouble making the routine plays have prevented him from being the type of player that he should be.  He’s yet to surpass 687 yards in a season and his yards per catch has declined every year since his redshirt freshman season.

But the coaches have been complimentary of Vasher’s work in the offseason (primarily prior to the coronavirus shutdown) and he’s reportedly in the best shape of his career.  Matt Wells has even referred to him as the best red-zone weapon in the Big 12.

This year, if Vasher can put everything together and be an all-conference caliber player, the Red Raider offense will potentially have two dynamic outside receivers assuming that sophomore Erik Ezukanma continues his progression after a promising redshirt freshman season in 2019.  That will open up the field for not only the passing game but will benefit the ground game as well as it will mandate that defenses devote extra attention to Vasher all game long.

So let’s hope that Vasher has come to a place of maturity that will allow him to unlock his tremendous potential.  That’s because he could be what takes this year’s offense from good to elite.

Home/Texas Tech Football