Five Texas Tech football players who will battle for their job in spring practice

Can Texas Tech WR Coy Eakin hang onto his place in the WR pecking order?

One of the few offensive players not named Tahj Brooks to surpass expectations last fall was Coy Eakin who emerged as a starting WR late in the season. However, just like Brown, he was far from elite and he too will have to battle for snaps in what is now a crowded receiver room.

In 10 games this year, he caught 36 passes for 416 yards and two TDs. He finished third on the team in receiving yards and was Tech's best receiver by the end of the year.

However, the Stephenville, TX native is not an explosive player and that's what Tech is looking for at WR. Hudson is expected to provide big plays and Kelly averaged 15.1 yards per catch this past season. Eakin likely won't be able to match their athleticism.

So in the spring, can Eakin continue to show that his connection with QB Behren Morton is strong enough for him to maintain a starting job? That will be his best chance to keep his role in the WR rotation.

Eakin does have the body control to be a possession WR, something that his great hands also should help him become. Maybe he won't be a guy who is in the game on every down but who comes in for critical third downs or in the red zone.

Either way, Tech has shown that it is picking up the competition at wide receiver this year and that's going to push everyone in that room. It will be interesting to see how Eakin responds to the challenge.