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Texas Tech football: Ranking the offensive position groups

By Matthew Conner

Nov 14, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back SaRodorick Thompson (4) rushes against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back SaRodorick Thompson (4) rushes against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Receiver Erik Ezukanma #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders signals during the first half of the college football game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 24: Receiver Erik Ezukanma #13 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders signals during the first half of the college football game against the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 24, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Wide receiver

Just in case you aren’t sure how shaky the Texas Tech football program’s wide receiver corps is right now, stop to think about what that group will look like if leading receiver Erik Ezukanma can’t play in the season opener against Houston after breaking his arm this spring.  Yeah.  It isn’t a pretty picture.

That’s why this position group is the second-weakest on the Red Raider offense right now.

Were it not for Ezukanma, Tech would have no proven answers at the receiver position this year.  In fact, his presence is the only factor keeping this from being one of the worst collections of WR that this program has entered a season with during the “Air Raid” era.

For his career, Ezukanma has caught 90 passes for 1,460 yards and 11 TDs.  That dwarfs the production that Tech has received from every other receiver on the roster.  In fact, no other receiver on the roster has more than 50 career receptions.

That’s why Tech has turned to the transfer portal to bring Troy WR Kaylon Geiger into the fold.  The 5-foot-10 speedster has caught 141 passes for 1,410 yards and 8 TDs over the last two seasons and will likely slide into the starting lineup opposite of Ezukanma for his last year as a collegiate.

But behind them, Tech has no proven depth.  Loic Founji was is a former 4-star signee who showed only momentary flashes last season as a true freshman on his way to five catches for 69 yards and a TD.

Meanwhile, the physically talented Trey Cleveland has managed just eight catches for 81 yards and one score in his two years in the program.  What’s more, we can’t expect incoming freshman Jerand Bradley to be an immediate playmaker despite his 4-star ranking as a recruit.

Also, in the slot, Tech’s leading returning receiver from a year ago is sophomore Myles Price, who caught a mere 28 passes for 300 yards and one TD.  And behind him are the oft-injured Dalton Rigdon and McLane Mannix, both of whom missed significant time in 2020.

Thus, it all boils down to the fact that Ezukanma has to be an all-conference player for this position group to hold its own.  If he can be at his best after offseason surgery, the Red Raider receiving corps has a chance to be average as far as a Big 12 unit goes, especially if Geiger makes an impact.  But if Ezukanma is slowed and takes a while to get back to full speed, who knows where the answers will come from for the receivers.

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