Texas Tech football lands speedy transfer wide receiver from Houston

No program can have too much speed. That's why the Texas Tech football program is making room for Houston transfer Mikal Harrison-Pilot.

Wednesday, we discussed his reported visit to Lubbock, and on Thursday, the speedy transfer wide receiver who played his true freshman season with the Houston Cougars last fall announced on social media that he has committed to the Red Raiders.

This is a move that might not pay immediate dividends for Texas Tech. However, it could be one that has long-lasting ramifications.

Last season, Harrison-Pilot accumulated no stats while appearing in four games for the Cougars, primarily on special teams. That means he will be a redshirt freshman in 2024 with four years left to play for the Red Raiders.

Rated a 4-star prospect in the class of 2023, he was the No. 193 player in the nation and No. 35 player in Texas according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

As a high school prospect (from Temple, Texas) he had offers from Houston, Cal, TCU, Texas, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and a host of other programs.

Now, he could see some action as a kickoff returner given his speed, though Tech already has the dangerous senior Drae McCray to handle those chores as well. Of course, given Harrion-Pilot's 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame, he seems destined to play in the slot on offense, just as McCray does.

Perhaps Harrison-Pilot will make an impact this year but it seems more likely that his time to shine might come in 2025 and beyond when Tech will need more help at inside receiver. This year, McCray and 5-star true freshman Micah Hudson will likely get most of the snaps in the slot, along with Texas Tech's talented tight ends.

Next fall, though, McCray will be out of eligibility and Hudson will likely play outside receiver to replace 2024 starting receiver, Josh Kelly, a transfer from Washington State who has only one year of eligibility remaining in 2024. Thus, Harrison-Pilot might be able to step into McCray's shoes both in the offense and on special teams a year from now.

He was one of the fastest high school track sprinters in Texas in the spring of 2023 and that is something that certainly appeals to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire, who has made no effort to hide his desire to make Texas Tech one of the fastest programs in the country. Now, Harrison-Pilot is bringing his athleticism to Lubbock where he could be a future building block for the Red Raiders.