This year, the Big 12 boasts perhaps the most impressive collection of running backs among all conferences in the nation. However, fans need not worry, as the passing game will continue to thrive in a conference renowned for pioneering the spread offense across football levels. Specifically, the Texas Tech football squad should brace itself for encounters with some of the country’s top-tier wide receivers in 2024.
In the previous season, Tech’s defense struggled to contain opposing aerial attacks, ranking 74th nationally and sixth in the Big 12, conceding an average of 229.2 passing yards per game.
Notably, the team grappled with yielding big plays, allowing an average of 10.4 yards per completed pass in 2023, marking the lowest rank in the Big 12 and the 121st position nationwide.
It remains to be seen whether defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter can shore up the team’s pass defense this season, especially given the need to fill the void left by nearly the entire starting secondary from the previous season.
With the departures of Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Tyler Owens, Malik Dunlap, and Rayshad Williams, Tech faces the challenge of replacing a significant portion of its defensive output, including 165 total tackles and seven interceptions from the previous fall.
Additionally, the Red Raiders will have to contend with a formidable lineup of standout wide receivers in the upcoming season. Here’s a look at the five most formidable wideouts that Tech will encounter in 2024.
Travis Hunter
If Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter focused only on one side of the ball, he might be the best WR in the country. However, his double duties as a corner and pass catcher sometimes limit his snaps and drain his batteries.
Still, he caught 57 balls for 721 yards and five TDs last season, his first at Colorado. That was despite the fact that he missed three games.
Hunter had three 100-yard receiving games last fall. He put up 119 yards on 11 catches against TCU in the opener, 140 yards on 13 catches and two scores against Stanford, and 107 yards on eight catches and a score against Utah.
Playing with star QB Shedeur Sanders, he is a threat to win the Heisman Trophy this year, especially if he is dominant on both sides of the football. Thus, he will be a huge problem for the Red Raiders when Colorado comes to Lubbock in November.
Rashod Owens
While running back Ollie Gordon II fuels the Oklahoma State offense, their passing game poses a significant threat in 2024, thanks in part to Rashod Owens.
Last season marked Owens’ breakthrough as a starter during his junior year, and he capitalized on the opportunity. He closed out the season with impressive stats: 63 receptions for 895 yards and five touchdowns, boasting an average of 14.2 yards per catch.
Owens notably achieved three 100-yard games, highlighted by a stellar performance of 164 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl. He surpassed the 75-yard mark in six games throughout the season.
Recognized as an honorable mention All-Big 12 player, Owens returns to an Oklahoma State offense brimming with potential for 2024. However, as we’ll soon discover, he’s not even the most outstanding receiver on his own team.
Jaylin Noel
One of two fantastic wide receivers for Iowa State, Jaylin Noel is a player that the Red Raiders will have to contend with this season. Last season, he was a second-team All-Big 12 selection and now he returns to lead the Cyclones’ receiving corps.
Noel started 11 of 12 games last season. The Kansas City native finished with 66 receptions for 820 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. What’s more, he also handled kick and punt return duties averaging 8.5 yards per punt return and 27.2 yards per kick return.
Though he averaged 12.4 yards per catch last season, he had only two 100-yard games. One of those performances, though, was a monster 160-yard day against Kansas State that saw him find the endzone twice while catching only three passes in total.
Noel will team with Jayden Higgins to give Iowa State a stout pair of wide receivers. Between them, they had 1,803 yards and 13 TDs last fall.
Brennan Presley
Texas Tech football enthusiasts are well aware of the Big 12’s historical prominence in nurturing top-tier slot receivers, many of whom have hailed from the Red Raiders’ ranks. However, this year, the distinction of being the premier inside receiver in the nation might belong to Brennan Presley, who calls Stillwater, Oklahoma his home.
Standing at just 5-foot-8, the Tulsa native showcased his remarkable productivity last season, emerging as one of the country’s most dynamic players. Presley led the conference with an impressive 101 receptions, accumulating 991 yards and securing six touchdowns.
Despite only two games with over 100 receiving yards, he consistently made his presence felt, surpassing the 90-yard mark on five occasions. Moreover, he boasted standout performances with 15 and 16 receptions in separate games.
Teaming up with Rashod Owens and Ollie Gordon II, Presley forms a formidable trio of skill position players for Oklahoma State, arguably the best in the conference. With seventh-year senior QB Alan Bowman expected to fulfill a solid game management role, the Cowboys pose a formidable challenge for any opposing defense.
Tetairoa McMillan
When the Red Raiders head to Tucson, Arizona on September 21, trying to stop a dangerous Arizona Wildcat offense will be one of the season’s toughest tests. That includes figuring out a way to slow down Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best pass catchers in college football.
Last season, McMillan tore up the PAC 12. His 1,402 receiving yards were fifth-most in the country and he had 90 receptions and 10 TDs to earn first-team all-conference honors.
The 6-foot-5 native of Hawaii is a matchup problem. Last season, he averaged almost 108 yards per game.
The Wildcats will be one of the favorites to win the Big 12 in their first season as a league memner. McMillan and the Arizona passing attack will be a huge reason why.
