Texas Tech football: Erik Ezukanma’s departure a huge blow to Red Raiders

There is a dichotomy in college sports that can make being a fan difficult on occasion.  Sometimes, college fans have to balance wishing their favorite athletes the best for their own future while also hoping for the best for the university they love.  And when those interests contrast, it’s a tough pill to swallow.  Now, such a case has arisen for Texas Tech football fans as wide receiver Erik Ezukanma has declared for the NFL Draft thus forgoing his remaining eligibility.

The announcement, which came via social media on Thursday, is a huge domino to fall in the Red Raiders’ offseason.  In fact, it is easily the biggest development for this team outside of the hiring of the new coaching staff.

That’s because this news means that Tech has now lost its most talented offensive weapon.  What’s more, there are no clear-cut replacements waiting in the wings.

This past season, Ezukanma caught a career-high 48 passes for 704 yards and four TDs.  And he finishes his Texas Tech career with 138 catches for 2,165 yards and 15 receiving TDs (he also rushed for a pair of scores).  Also, he was the team’s leader in receiving yards for each of the past three seasons.

This departure further compounds Tech’s issues at wide receiver.  That’s because the program is also losing 2021’s second-leading receiver, Kaylon Geiger, to graduation.  The Troy transfer was only a Red Raider for one season during which he caught 41 passes for 541 yards and one TD.

But outside of Ezukanma and Geiger, no Texas Tech outside receiver caught more than the 10 passes Trey Cleveland hauled in or amassed more than the 171 yards that Loic Fouonji racked up.  In other words, there are some serious questions for this program to answer at outside receiver.

Perhaps Cleveland and Fouonji are ready to emerge.  But that duo has combined for just 31 catches and 444 yards while scoring only four combined TDs in their Red Raider careers.

Another player who could be a factor is Jerand Bradley, who was redshirted in 2021.  As a true freshman, the former 4-star high school signee from Plano, Texas caught three passes for 35 yards this year while appearing in just a pair of games.

Still, at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, he has the size and speed to be the next Ezukanma.  Perhaps all he needs is an opportunity to get meaningful reps.

Another player who might remind some of Ezukanma in that he plays a similar brand of physical football at the WR position is J.J. Sparkman.  At 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, he’s a bit larger than Ezukanma but he’s far less accomplished having caught just five passes for 57 yards in his career.

Also, don’t be surprised to see Tech hit the transfer portal to find a proven WR as they did with Geiger this past offseason.  They did the same in 2019 when they landed R.J. Turner from Louisiana-Monroe for a single season.  He was a pleasant surprise that year leading the team with 45 catches while also amassing 654 yards and 3 TDs.

But regardless of how much physical potential the remaining options at wide receiver have and regardless of who Tech might be able to add from the portal, Ezukanma’s loss will be felt across the offense.  And finding the next star wide receiver has to be one of this program’s top offseason priorities.

Interestingly, the productivity at that position has fallen off in recent years as QB injuries and offensive coordinator shuffling have taken their toll on the offense.  In fact, Tech has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Antoine Wesley’s monster 1,410-yard performance in 2018.

Many thought Ezukanma could have smashed the 1,000-yard mark in 2022 under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, who is one of the hottest up-and-coming coordinators in the nation.  But Ezukanman feels his best option is to pursue his NFL dreams and Texas Tech fans must wish him the best, even though his decision will have a significant negative impact on the program we all love.