Thursday, the Texas Tech football program announced that former wide receiver Michael Crabtree will be inducted into the Ring of Honor at Jones Stadium.
The greatest wide receiver in Texas Tech football history and one of the best the long history of the NCAA, Michael Crabtree, is set to be inducted into the Texas Tech football Ring of Honor. That announcement was made Thursday by the Texas Tech athletic department and AD Kirby Hocutt.
"“When you think of truly legendary wide receivers in college football history, you can’t help but think of Michael Crabtree,” Hocutt said. “The Ring of Honor is reserved for the best of the best, and there is no question Michael Crabtree fits that criteria. We look forward to forever placing his name in Jones AT&T Stadium where he made so many memorable moments over his career.”"
A two-time winner of the Biletnikoff Award (the first player to ever win the award in consecutive seasons), the Dallas native was as dominant at the collegiate level as any receiver to ever play the game. In just two seasons of action, he registered 3,127 yards and 41 TDs on 237 receptions.
In addition, he helped Tech reach as high as No. 2 in the national polls in 2008. Of course, that came the week after his 28-yard TD reception from Graham Harrell with seven seconds to play toppled No. 1 Texas in Lubbock.
"“It is a truly an honor to be named a member of the Ring of Honor,” Crabtree said. “In football, the ultimate goal is to have your name on the stadium. That was always my goal throughout my career. The Ring of Honor is an unbelievable special accomplishment. It’s a blessing for me, my kids, my family and all the teammates and coaches I played with.”"
The two-time All-American will become the sixth member of the Ring of Honor. He will join inaugural members Dave Parks, E.J. Holub, and Donny Anderson, who were all inducted in 2012, as well as Gabe Rivera (2014) and Zach Thomas (2016).
Appropriately, Crabtree’s induction will not take place until 2021 when the hope is that Jones Stadium will again be allowed to hold its full capacity. As of right now, there is no word on which game his induction will take place.
The history of Texas Tech football can’t be told without including Michael Crabtree. He’s the greatest player to represent the Scarlet and Black in the “Air Raid” era and he’s one of the reasons the program has become synonymous with receivers. Now, he’ll join the other all-time greats in Tech history by being immortalized on the west side of Jones Stadium.