Wide Receiver
At first glance, one might believe that the Texas Tech football team might be a bit worse off at the wide receiver corps this year after seeing 2020’s third-leading receiver, KeSean Carter, and fifth-leading receiver T.J. Vasher leave the program. But once again, the transfer portal has come into play at this position and that will help the Red Raiders make up for what was lost in the above receivers and then some.
Replacing Vasher at outside receiver, opposite of Erik Ezukanma, is expected to be Kaylon Geiger, a transfer from Troy University. For his career, the senior has caught 141 passes for 1,625 yards and 8 TDs. But keep in mind that Geiger put up those numbers in just two seasons at Troy after playing two years of JUCO football.
By contrast, in five seasons with Tech, Vasher managed to haul in just over 350 more receiving yards than Geiger. What’s more, in three years as a Red Raider, Carter mustered just over half of that yardage total.
What will be interesting though will be to see whether Geiger sticks on the outside or whether he plays more from the slot, which was his home at Troy. But regardless, his elite speed should give the Red Raider offense another dimension this year.
Additionally, a slew of young receivers is growing up right before our eyes. Players such as inside receiver Myles Price and outside receivers Loic Fojonji, Trey Cleveland, Jerand Bradley, and J.J. Sparkman are all still in their college football infancy with each having at least three years of eligibility remaining. It is conceivable that a pair of players from that cluster could see the light switch flip on this season and give Tech extra weapons to throw out onto the field.
Finally, don’t forget that veteran inside receivers McLane Mannix and Dalton Rigdon are back and at full health to begin the year. Each has had moments when he has proven capable of being a big-play threat from the slot and it is worth believing that at least one of them will have a healthy and productive campaign in 2021.
It should all add up to a more balanced and dangerous receiving corps than we’ve seen Tech have in the last handful of years. And when this collection of talent gets on the same page as Tyler Shough, this offense could be rather salty.