Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that have not met expectations thus far
T.J. Vasher
I’m finished expecting any from T.J. Vasher. After all, now many times are we going to see him disappoint after being told that this was going to be the year he finally realized his full potential?
This offseason, Wells discussed how much more mature Vasher had become both mentally and physically over the offseason. In fact, the head coach spoke of the senior WR in almost glowing terms this past spring.
"“Really proud of T.J. the last three months,” Wells said in March. “He’s changed his focus, in terms of his priorities. When I say that I mean, my daily routine to my habits matching up with my goals and my dreams…He’s gained 15 pounds…The way he comes into the building, he’s ready to go. This is the T.J. Vasher…at this point…that we all want right now.”"
But when Vasher had to miss the first few weeks of fall camp to focus on his academics, it should have been a sign to us all that he was indeed no more mature this year than he has been during his Red Raider career. And the lack of results on the field has proven that.
So far, the Wichita Falls native has caught 14 passes for 163 yards and a pair of TDs. Those numbers project to 42 receptions, 489 yards, and 6 TDs over the course of a full 12-game season, which would be his worst statistical season since his true freshman campaign when he played in only one game.
What’s more, since catching eight passes against HBU in the opener, he’s failed to register more than four in any game. And in his last two outings, he’s had a total of just two grabs for 10 yards as he had no catches in the loss to Iowa State.
At this point, it is fair to say that Vasher is what he is…a physically gifted athlete who just doesn’t have the intangibles needed to become a star. He’s proof that size and athleticism are not all that college football players need to possess and he appears destined to go down in history as one of the most frustrating and disappointing Red Raiders of the “Air Raid” era.