Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that have to come up big against WVU

Can Texas Tech WR Jerand Bradley take over this game?

So far in 2023, wide receiver Jerand Bradley is off to one of the quietest good starts that one could ever imagine.  This weekend, let’s see if the uber-talented pass catcher can finally take over a game and dominate the way his physical gifts suggest he should.

The 6-foot-6 monster leads the team with 17 catches and 211 yards.  However, he hasn’t been a true game-changer just yet.

In fact, it is hard to find many games in his Red Raider career in which he’s been an unstoppable force. Actually, there has been only one game against an FBS team in which Bradley was the primary reason his team won.

In last year’s victory over Oklahoma in Lubbock, Bradley hauled in eight passes for 173 yards and a TD as Tech prevailed 51-48 in overtime.  That night he averaged 21.6 yards per catch.

Outside of that, though, he has had only one 100-yard game against an FBS team.  That also came last year when he had 119 yards and a TD against Oklahoma State in a losing effort.

It’s time for Bradley to start to dominate opposing teams.  Right now, he’s more of a T.J. Vasher starter kit who possesses immense physical talent but who is more of a tease than a dominant and reliable force.

West Virginia is a team Bradley could obliterate.  Against Penn State in the opener, the Mountaineers allowed six Nittany Lions to average at least 10 yards per catch.

That included KeAndre Lambert-Smith who had 123 yards and two TDs on just four catches.  That’s an average of 30.8 yards per reception.

Let’s see if Bradley can run wild against the Mountaineers as well.  His talent and physicality suggest he should be an all-conference receiver (he was named a preseason All-Big 12 receiver this offseason) and it’s time he begins to make that type of impact.