T.J. Vasher set to steal the limelight next season

We finally made it Red Raider fans. It’s well past the roller coaster ride that was the 2018 Texas Tech football season and can now see the 2019 season on the horizon. There’s a new head coach in Matt Wells and an overall feeling of a fresh start. But with that start one has to ask, who can take the reigns as an offensive threat for the Red Raiders?

The answer is pretty simple and has been in front of us for three years. That answer is in junior wide receiver T.J. Vasher. Here are a few reasons why Vasher should be a focal point for Tech this upcoming season.

He can lead:

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This statement may not have been fit for Vasher last season. However, he is no longer a young sophomore who looks to others for guidance. He’s been a part of this team, been through the ups and downs, and is now ready for whatever is thrown his way.

His development over the years has not just been his skill and athleticism, but also his ability to direct the younger athletes on the field.

Of the 14 wide receivers Texas Tech has this season, Vasher is among the oldest and most experienced on the roster. His playing time last season is above all other Red Raider wide receivers that remain on the roster to this date.

Last year, it was Antoine Wesley who led the crew of wide receivers. Now with Wesley declaring for the NFL draft, its Vashers’ time to run the Red Raiders.

His physical attributes are unreal:

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Honestly, the picture above says enough. I mean, look at his ability to get up and grab the ball. It’s almost as if he launched himself four feet above the defender. Like I said, the kid is unreal.

Standing at an elite 6’6, this puts Vasher at an advantage over pretty much any defender covering him down the field. His vertical and reach is almost like a customized character on Madden. They just don’t make wide receivers with his physical attributes anymore.

Not only is he taller than most offensive assets in Division 1 football, but Vasher also has some of the best hands in the Big 12 Conference. Yes, he struggled to catch the ball at the beginning of the 2018 season, but with time that soon faded.

Vasher has the ability to leap into the air for passes that most options couldn't catch. In fact, that’s his specialty. He could also catch the ball on his toes within inches of being forced out of bounds, which is not an easy task. But what was even more amazing was his Odell Beckham like one-handed catch that he put on display several times last season.

You just cant stop his height and hands when he’s on the field. Vasher already has and will continue to be a nightmare for upcoming Big 12 opponents.

His stats say it all:

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I wholeheartedly agree that the truth is in the facts. So, lets get down to the facts about Vasher and what he can do.

Last season, Vasher was third among wide receivers with 687 yards. The only receivers with more yards were former Red Raiders Antoine Wesley and Ja’Deion High. I’m a big believer in consistent trends as well. If his stats improve from last season ever so slightly, we should expect Vasher to lead Red Raider receivers this upcoming season.

Not only was he among the top receivers in yards, Vasher was also third in average yards per game with 62.45. Again, he was trailing behind Wesley and High and can now be seen as a front runner in that category as well.

Somewhere Vasher really shined last season was in the end zone. Among Red Raider receivers, he was just second in touchdowns with seven on the year.

All of his statistical areas sets himself up for further greatness, and can now be the No. 1 target down field for sophomore quarterback Allen Bowman.

When it comes down to brass tacks, Vasher has proven to be a necessary asset for the Red Raiders. With his leadership qualities, physical attributes and what he’s proven last season, it’s safe to say that Vasher will steal the limelight this upcoming season.