Texas Tech football: Red Raider WR Jerand Bradley enters portal
Friday, what had been rumored earlier in the week became official as Texas Tech wide receiver Jerand Bradley announced on social media his intention to enter the transfer portal. This makes two of Tech’s top three receivers on the season who have expressed their intention to enter the transfer portal after Myles Price announced earlier this week that he will also be looking for a new place to play next season.
While Price led Tech this year with 43 catches and five TDs, Bradley was second on the team in receiving yards with 431 and touchdowns with four. That means that the Red Raiders will have plenty of productivity to fill at both inside and outside receiver in 2024.
It was a bit of a disappointing season for Bradley, though. Named a preseason All-Big 12 honoree, he was expected to be Tech’s best option in the passing game and even threaten the 1,000-yard mark.
However, he never found a way to make a consistent impact this fall. In fairness, no Tech receiver managed to do that given that the program had to start three different quarterbacks and play most of the season with Behren Morton at far less than full health.
Still, even when Bradley had the chance to play with Tyler Shough before he was lost for the season in week four, he was not a difference-maker on a weekly basis. While he did have a TD and over 80 yards in each of the first two games of the season, he would fall off considerably after that.
In Big 12 play, the former high 3-star recruit had only one game with over 50 yards receiving and two total touchdowns. Against Kansas, he helped Tech secure a 16-13 win with 91 yards on four catches including a 33-yard catch to set up the game-winning field goal.
Outside of that day in Lawrence, though, Bradley topped out at 46 yards, which he had against Kansas State in a losing effort. Certainly, Red Raider fans had higher hopes for the De Soto, Texas native after a strong 2022.
Last year, Bradley had 744 yards and six touchdowns, his best season as a collegiate thus far. For that reason, he was one of Tech’s most hyped players heading into this season.
Unfortunately, he didn’t match last year nor did he take a step forward in any area. Now, many Red Raider fans will be left to lament the fact that Bradley never quite lived up to his billing as a high school prospect.
In the class of 2021, Bradley was ranked the No. 82 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 77 player in the state by 247Sports.com. In addition to Tech, he held offers from the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Wisconsin, and others.
Bradley ends his Texas Tech career with three 100-yard games. Last year, he went off for 173 yards and a TD against Oklahoma, 119 yards and a TD against Oklahoma State, and 109 yards and two TDs against Murray State.
Now, that it appears that his time in Lubbock is over it means Joey McGuire and his staff have to fill another hole at receiver. Look for the Red Raiders to be active in the transfer portal at that position by adding multiple players as the defections continue to come now that the portal is about to open.