Friday, the Texas Tech football program learned that it will not add James Madison transfer wide receiver Yamir Knight to its roster despite pursuing the slot weapon via the portal. Instead, the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder has committed to SMU.
However, this news is not going to make a huge impact on the Red Raiders, at least for the 2025 season. That's because last weekend, Tech added another slot receiver, Roy Alexander, to the program.
Last season at Incarnate Word (an FCS program), Alexander caught 100 passes for 1,108 yards and 13 touchdowns. Now, he's set to compete for the starting job at inside receiver for the Red Raiders.
James Madison wide receiver Yamir Knight has committed to SMU, his agency @QCSports tells @SWiltfong_ and I.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 2, 2025
Knight had 53 catches for 605 yards and 4 TDs in 2024.https://t.co/VxSGJETKD9 pic.twitter.com/d17e49ilif
As for Knight, he pulled in 53 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns. Of course, those numbers came at the FBS level, which might make them a bit more impressive than Alexander's big stats at the lower level of the sport.
What's more, Knight still has two years of eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, Alexander has only one.
Still, Texas Tech is in good shape at that position. Alexander gives the program an experienced and productive option in the slot for next season, a year in which the Red Raiders are going all-in to win the Big 12.
Then, when he departs, young players such as Micah Hudson or Leyton Stone could be ready to take over that critical role in 2026. While most Red Raiders are excited about what Hudson, the former 5-star prospect, could become, Stone, a former 3-star prospect from Frenship High School in Wolfforth and the son of Texas Tech head soccer coach Tom Stone, has turned heads in his first semester on campus.
Either way, the Red Raiders are set up well at the slot receiver position. With Alexander likely to man that spot this season and some talented players waiting in the wings, losing out on Knight doesn't hurt at all.
Of course, the need to bring in a productive slot receiver was crucial this offseason. That's because Tech's top receiver last fall, Josh Kelly, is now in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.
Last year, Kelly caught 89 passes for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns in his senior season. What's more, he had over 30 catches on third down as he became a go-to option for the Red Raiders.
It remains to be seen if Alexander will make that type of impact in 2025, but he is an excellent option to help bridge the gap to the up-and-coming options on the roster. Thus, even though Tech didn't land Knight, the future of the slot receiver position in Lubbock looks bright.