This year, the Big 12 will have the best corps of running backs of any conference in America. But don’t worry, the forward pass is still prevalent in the conference that made the spread offense a revolutionary force in the football game at every level. In fact, the Texas Tech football team had better be prepared to face some of the best wide receivers in the country in 2024.
Tech was only average at stopping the pass last season. The Red Raiser defense, ranked 74th nationally and sixth in the Big 12 Conference, allowed 229.2 yards per game through the air.
But big plays have been an issue: Tech allowed an average of 10.4 yards per pass completion in 2023, last in the Big 12 Conference and 121st nationally.
It will be interesting to see if defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter can improve the pass defense this season, as the Red Raiders will have to replace nearly their entire starting secondary from last season.
With the graduation of Dadrion Taylor Demerson, Tyler Owens, Malik Dunlap and Rayshad Williams, Tech will have to make up for last fall’s 165 combined tackles and seven interceptions, which is pretty productive.
Another tough challenge for Tech is the group of talented wide receivers they will have to stop this fall. Here are the five best wide receivers the Red Raiders will face in 2024.
Travis Hunter. Travis Hunter. 514. Tech Jr. 5 Player
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter could be the best wide receiver in the country if he focused on just one side of the ball, but his dual duties as a cornerback and pass-catching player limit his snaps and can sap his energy.
Still, he had 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns last season, his first with Colorado, and that came despite him missing three games.
Hunter had three games with 100 or more yards receiving last fall: 11 catches for 119 yards in the season opener against TCU, 13 catches for 140 yards and two scores against Stanford and eight catches for 107 yards and one score against Utah.
Playing alongside star quarterback Shedul Sanders, he will be a threat to win the Heisman this year, especially if he can dominate on both ends, so he will be a big problem for the Red Raiders when Colorado comes to Lubbock in November.
