5 Biggest Texas Tech football NFL Draft busts

No. 3: RB Byron Hanspard

There was a time when Texas Tech was known not for wide receivers but rather for producing great running backs. The best RB to ever play for the program was Byron Hanspard from Dallas.

As a Red Raider, he ran for 4,135 yards and 29 TDs while catching 63 passes for 896 more yards and 9 scores. What's wild is that he did all of that in three years. That earned him All-American honors and the Doak Walker Award.

That's why the Atlanta Falcons spent the No. 41 overall pick (2nd round) on Hanspard in the 1997 draft. And for one season, it appeared that he was on his way to stardom.

As a rookie, Hanspard made a difference, but not as a running back. Returning 40 kickoffs for 987 yards and two TDs, he earned All-Rookie honors as a kick returner. But as a running back, he carried only 53 times for 335 yards and no scores.

In the 1998 preseason, Hanspard suffered a knee injury that cost him the entire season. He would return to action in 1999 but he was far from the player he was before his injury as he racked up only 383 yards and 1 TD on 136 carries.

In the 2000 training camp, Hanspard was cut by Atlanta. He would land with Tampa Bay but despite being on their roster for three years, he would never see the field for the Buccaneers. Thus, injuries claimed another Red Raider in the NFL. Unfortunately, that's a common theme on this list as we will see with the other two players on this countdown of NFL Draft busts.