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#RedRaidersInTheNFL - 2018 Preseason Update
August 05, 2018 | Football
Anthony LynnJace AmaroDanny AmendolaCameron BatsonDylan CantrellLe'Raven ClarkMichael CrabtreeKeke CouteeCody DavisJakeem GrantKerry Hyder, Jr.Branden JacksonPatrick Mahomes IIBradley MarquezOndre PipkinsPete RobertsonNic ShimonekMychealon ThomasLa'Adrian WaddleDeAndre WashingtonDavis WebbDerrick Willies
Each week, texastech.com recaps the performances of Red Raiders currently playing and coaching in the NFL. This week's edition is a primer for where you can watch your favorite Red Raiders this season.
Anthony Lynn - Head Coach, Los Angeles Chargers
Anthony Lynn's Chargers are being tabbed by quite a few pundits as a dark horse candidate in the always-tough AFC West after their late-season surge in 2017 nearly landed them a playoff spot... Lynn was a Red Raider running back from 1988-91 and was an All-SWC selection in 1990 … He was also a member of the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos in 1997 and 1998.Â
Jace Amaro - Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs
Amaro was drafted 49th overall in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. In his first year with the Jets, he played in 14 games, starting four, and recorded 38 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns en route to 2014 NFL All-Rookie team honors. He appeared in three games with the Tennessee Titans in 2016 and turned four targets into three catches for 59 yards. In January 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Amaro to join the offensive arsenal for fellow Red Raider Patrick Mahomes II for the upcoming season.
Danny Amendola - Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Danny Amendola began his career with the St. Louis Rams, playing in the Gateway City for four years, picking up 196 receptions for 1,726 yards, which included a career-best 689 yards on 85 catches in 2010. Amendola earned the nickname "Playoff Danny" over his five seasons with the New England Patriots, racking up 230 receptions and 2,383 yards to go with 12 of his 19 career touchdowns. The moniker came as a result of his knack for making huge plays in playoff games, including TD catches in two different Super Bowls … His 21 receptions and 278 receiving yards in his 3 Super Bowl appearances are both fifth-best in all-time Super Bowl history.
Cameron Batson - Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans
Batson has been turning heads in training camp, and suddenly finds himself in a tight position battle for the Titans' No. 5 WR spot … Batson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans this past April after a career at Texas Tech that included 1,499 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Dylan Cantrell - Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Chargers
Cantrell has been heaped with praise during training camp, with some outlets tabbing him as the MVP of camp so far … Fellow Red Raider, head coach Anthony Lynn, has been among the most vocal regarding Cantrell's progress … A knee injury has Cantrell currently sidelined indefinitely, but before that he was reportedly a great bet to make the 53-man roster … Cantrell was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Chargers after amassing 1,873 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns as a Red Raider.
Le'Raven Clark - Offensive Lineman, Indianapolis Colts
After starting 15 games last year, Clark is in the mix again to get time on the offensive line for the Colts, who look forward to welcoming quarterback Andrew Luck back into the fold … Clark was the first of three Red Raiders to hear their names called in the 2016 NFL draft, going at No. 82 overall … Clark started all 51 games of his Red Raider career, and his senior year he was named a CBS Sports second team All-American ... He was the third-round pick of the Colts in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Michael Crabtree -Â Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
Crabtree was signed by the Baltimore Ravens, and figures to make an instant impact, coming off three-straight seasons with 8 or more touchdowns … Crabtree has amassed 6,870 yards and 51 TDs off 579 receptions in his nine-year career … Crabtree played two seasons at Texas Tech (2007-08), where he became the first receiver in collegiate history to win the Biletnikoff Award twice, before the 49ers selected him with the 10th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Keke Coutee -Â Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Coutee is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but has impressed at training camp for the Texans, competing for the starting role in the slot … Coutee was selected by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft … He declared for the NFL draft following a stellar junior campaign, in which he caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
Cody Davis -Â Defensive Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
After a promising season was cut short due to injury, Cody Davis moved from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, where he joins last year's AFC runners-up, the Jaguars … Davis figures to fit in well with Jacksonville's stingy defensive and special teams units … Davis was a four-year letterman with the Red Raiders (2009-12) and then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Rams in 2013.
Jakeem Grant -Â Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Already a fan favorite in Miami, Grant figures to burst onto the scene in 2018, coming off a season in which he averaged 15.6 yards per catch and hauled in two scores … He has been the talk of Dolphins' training camp so far, with acrobatic catches and electrifying returns on special teams … Grant was Miami's sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after a senior year at Tech in which he averaged 181 all-purpose yards per game which ranked fourth nationally. He also ranked fourth nationally with 1,017 kickoff return yards and fifth with two kickoff return touchdowns … He remains Texas Tech's career leader in receiving yards after totaling 3,289 over his four-year career … CBS Sports tabbed him as a second team All-American his senior year.
Kerry Hyder, Jr. - Defensive Line, Detroit Lions
After a breakout performance in 2016 where he led the Lions in sacks, Hyder suffered a torn Achilles and missed the 2017 season … However, Hyder has bounced back well and is projected to start at the moment, as he is having a great camp with multiple sacks in scrimmages so far … Hyder joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2014 after a Red Raider career which included a litany of All-Big 12 honors in 2013 and 2014.
Branden Jackson - Defensive Line, Seattle Seahawks
After a strong second half in 2017 that featured seven tackles, a pass breakup and 0.5 sacks, Jackson reportedly is in the mix to start for the Seahawks up front … Jackson was a four-year starter as a Red Raider, collecting 11 sacks during his tenure in Lubbock ... Jackson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders in 2016.
Patrick Mahomes II - Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs traded Alex Smith in the offseason, setting the stage for Mahomes to start at quarterback in just his second season with the back-to-back AFC West champs … He earned his first start a season ago in week 17, at Denver. He threw for 284 yards and led a game-winning drive with the majority of Kansas City's second-teamers in a 27-24 win … Mahomes was the 10th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft after a 2016 season in which he won the Sammy Baugh Award, led the FBS in total offense and set FBS single-game record for passing yards and total offense. He is the highest drafted quarterback in school history.
Bradley Marquez - Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions
Marquez is impressing during training camp with the Lions, reportedly rotating with the first group at wide receiver … He was waived by the Rams after an injury in 2017, and signed by the Lions … Marquez played four seasons at Texas Tech (2010-14) before the Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2015.
Ondre Pipkins - Defensive Line, Washington Redskins
Pipkins is in camp with the Redskins for the second-straight year, after spending the second half of 2017 on the Washington practice squad, and is expected to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster … Pipkins was signed by the Redskins in May of 2017, and then signed to a Futures contract by the Redskins on Jan. 1.
Pete Robertson - Linebacker, Washington Redskins
Robertson is back in camp with the Redskins after being a mid-year call-up to the main roster in 2017, recording a tackle in week 12 … Many local reporters have commented that Robertson is having a great camp and will compete to make the 53-man roster … As a Red Raider, Robertson led the Tech defense in 2015 with five sacks and three quarterback hurries, concluding his career ranked fifth among Red Raider career sack leaders with 21.0, after leading the Big 12 in 2014 with 12.0 sacks … was an All-Big 12 first team selection in 2014.
Nic Shimonek - Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers
Shimonek has been in training camp with the Chargers, competing with Geno Smith and Cardale Jones for the backup and third-string QB jobs, neither of which have been settled … The Chargers signed Shimonek as an undrafted free agent immediately following the 2018 NFL Draft … Shimonek threw for 3,963 yards and 33 TDs as a Red Raider senior.
Mychealon Thomas - Nose Tackle, New York Jets
Thomas has been a standout at Jets camp in his quest to make the 53-man roster … The Jets signed Thomas as an undrafted free agent following a senior season at in Lubbock that featured 41 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries.
La'Adrian Waddle - Offensive Lineman, New England Patriots
Waddle was re-signed by the Patriots this offseason, and is in the mix to start at right tackle … The Super Bowl champion played four seasons at Tech (2009-12) before being signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent.
DeAndre Washington - Running back, Oakland Raiders
After compiling 350 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in 2017, Washington is in a position battle during camp with Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin and Jalen Richard … Washington was the first Red Raider running back to register back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons during the 2014-15 campaigns since former Doak Walker Award winner Byron Hanspard in 1995 and 1996 ... He is one of only five players in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards twice in a career.
Davis Webb - Quarterback, New York Giants
Webb enters training camp as the clear backup to Eli Manning, and should get plenty of opportunities to solidify is spot this preseason ... Webb was the 87th pick (3rd round) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, after a collegiate career that included three years at Texas Tech, two as the starting quarterback. Set a school record with at least one TD pass in each of the first 18 starts of his career.
Derrick Willies - Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
Willies is in a position battle in Browns camp to make the 53-man roster as a wide receiver, hauling a long touchdown pass during a scrimmage earlier this week to help his case … After transferring to Tech before his junior season, Willies amassed 592 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a Red Raider … He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns.
Anthony Lynn - Head Coach, Los Angeles Chargers
Anthony Lynn's Chargers are being tabbed by quite a few pundits as a dark horse candidate in the always-tough AFC West after their late-season surge in 2017 nearly landed them a playoff spot... Lynn was a Red Raider running back from 1988-91 and was an All-SWC selection in 1990 … He was also a member of the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos in 1997 and 1998.Â
Jace Amaro - Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs
Amaro was drafted 49th overall in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. In his first year with the Jets, he played in 14 games, starting four, and recorded 38 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns en route to 2014 NFL All-Rookie team honors. He appeared in three games with the Tennessee Titans in 2016 and turned four targets into three catches for 59 yards. In January 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Amaro to join the offensive arsenal for fellow Red Raider Patrick Mahomes II for the upcoming season.
Danny Amendola - Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Danny Amendola began his career with the St. Louis Rams, playing in the Gateway City for four years, picking up 196 receptions for 1,726 yards, which included a career-best 689 yards on 85 catches in 2010. Amendola earned the nickname "Playoff Danny" over his five seasons with the New England Patriots, racking up 230 receptions and 2,383 yards to go with 12 of his 19 career touchdowns. The moniker came as a result of his knack for making huge plays in playoff games, including TD catches in two different Super Bowls … His 21 receptions and 278 receiving yards in his 3 Super Bowl appearances are both fifth-best in all-time Super Bowl history.
Footwork 101 with @DannyAmendola #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/HxkHwfQwKJ
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 4, 2018
Cameron Batson - Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans
Batson has been turning heads in training camp, and suddenly finds himself in a tight position battle for the Titans' No. 5 WR spot … Batson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans this past April after a career at Texas Tech that included 1,499 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Dylan Cantrell - Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Chargers
Cantrell has been heaped with praise during training camp, with some outlets tabbing him as the MVP of camp so far … Fellow Red Raider, head coach Anthony Lynn, has been among the most vocal regarding Cantrell's progress … A knee injury has Cantrell currently sidelined indefinitely, but before that he was reportedly a great bet to make the 53-man roster … Cantrell was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Chargers after amassing 1,873 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns as a Red Raider.
?? @dylancantrell14 pic.twitter.com/Jn4VClUj8c
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) August 2, 2018
Le'Raven Clark - Offensive Lineman, Indianapolis Colts
After starting 15 games last year, Clark is in the mix again to get time on the offensive line for the Colts, who look forward to welcoming quarterback Andrew Luck back into the fold … Clark was the first of three Red Raiders to hear their names called in the 2016 NFL draft, going at No. 82 overall … Clark started all 51 games of his Red Raider career, and his senior year he was named a CBS Sports second team All-American ... He was the third-round pick of the Colts in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Michael Crabtree -Â Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
Crabtree was signed by the Baltimore Ravens, and figures to make an instant impact, coming off three-straight seasons with 8 or more touchdowns … Crabtree has amassed 6,870 yards and 51 TDs off 579 receptions in his nine-year career … Crabtree played two seasons at Texas Tech (2007-08), where he became the first receiver in collegiate history to win the Biletnikoff Award twice, before the 49ers selected him with the 10th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Keke Coutee -Â Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Coutee is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but has impressed at training camp for the Texans, competing for the starting role in the slot … Coutee was selected by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft … He declared for the NFL draft following a stellar junior campaign, in which he caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
Cody Davis -Â Defensive Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
After a promising season was cut short due to injury, Cody Davis moved from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, where he joins last year's AFC runners-up, the Jaguars … Davis figures to fit in well with Jacksonville's stingy defensive and special teams units … Davis was a four-year letterman with the Red Raiders (2009-12) and then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Rams in 2013.
Jakeem Grant -Â Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
Already a fan favorite in Miami, Grant figures to burst onto the scene in 2018, coming off a season in which he averaged 15.6 yards per catch and hauled in two scores … He has been the talk of Dolphins' training camp so far, with acrobatic catches and electrifying returns on special teams … Grant was Miami's sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft after a senior year at Tech in which he averaged 181 all-purpose yards per game which ranked fourth nationally. He also ranked fourth nationally with 1,017 kickoff return yards and fifth with two kickoff return touchdowns … He remains Texas Tech's career leader in receiving yards after totaling 3,289 over his four-year career … CBS Sports tabbed him as a second team All-American his senior year.
Your daily dose of @_TheDreamIsHere making plays, courtesy of the @MiamiDolphins. #RedRaidersInTheNFL
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) July 30, 2018
??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/OdyHvEjDrK
Kerry Hyder, Jr. - Defensive Line, Detroit Lions
After a breakout performance in 2016 where he led the Lions in sacks, Hyder suffered a torn Achilles and missed the 2017 season … However, Hyder has bounced back well and is projected to start at the moment, as he is having a great camp with multiple sacks in scrimmages so far … Hyder joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2014 after a Red Raider career which included a litany of All-Big 12 honors in 2013 and 2014.
Branden Jackson - Defensive Line, Seattle Seahawks
After a strong second half in 2017 that featured seven tackles, a pass breakup and 0.5 sacks, Jackson reportedly is in the mix to start for the Seahawks up front … Jackson was a four-year starter as a Red Raider, collecting 11 sacks during his tenure in Lubbock ... Jackson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders in 2016.
Patrick Mahomes II - Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs traded Alex Smith in the offseason, setting the stage for Mahomes to start at quarterback in just his second season with the back-to-back AFC West champs … He earned his first start a season ago in week 17, at Denver. He threw for 284 yards and led a game-winning drive with the majority of Kansas City's second-teamers in a 27-24 win … Mahomes was the 10th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft after a 2016 season in which he won the Sammy Baugh Award, led the FBS in total offense and set FBS single-game record for passing yards and total offense. He is the highest drafted quarterback in school history.
One hand grab??
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 2, 2018
1??5????1??1?? #ChiefsCamp pic.twitter.com/POdLJ1Mo4I
Bradley Marquez - Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions
Marquez is impressing during training camp with the Lions, reportedly rotating with the first group at wide receiver … He was waived by the Rams after an injury in 2017, and signed by the Lions … Marquez played four seasons at Texas Tech (2010-14) before the Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2015.
Ondre Pipkins - Defensive Line, Washington Redskins
Pipkins is in camp with the Redskins for the second-straight year, after spending the second half of 2017 on the Washington practice squad, and is expected to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster … Pipkins was signed by the Redskins in May of 2017, and then signed to a Futures contract by the Redskins on Jan. 1.
Pete Robertson - Linebacker, Washington Redskins
Robertson is back in camp with the Redskins after being a mid-year call-up to the main roster in 2017, recording a tackle in week 12 … Many local reporters have commented that Robertson is having a great camp and will compete to make the 53-man roster … As a Red Raider, Robertson led the Tech defense in 2015 with five sacks and three quarterback hurries, concluding his career ranked fifth among Red Raider career sack leaders with 21.0, after leading the Big 12 in 2014 with 12.0 sacks … was an All-Big 12 first team selection in 2014.
Nic Shimonek - Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers
Shimonek has been in training camp with the Chargers, competing with Geno Smith and Cardale Jones for the backup and third-string QB jobs, neither of which have been settled … The Chargers signed Shimonek as an undrafted free agent immediately following the 2018 NFL Draft … Shimonek threw for 3,963 yards and 33 TDs as a Red Raider senior.
Mychealon Thomas - Nose Tackle, New York Jets
Thomas has been a standout at Jets camp in his quest to make the 53-man roster … The Jets signed Thomas as an undrafted free agent following a senior season at in Lubbock that featured 41 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries.
La'Adrian Waddle - Offensive Lineman, New England Patriots
Waddle was re-signed by the Patriots this offseason, and is in the mix to start at right tackle … The Super Bowl champion played four seasons at Tech (2009-12) before being signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent.
DeAndre Washington - Running back, Oakland Raiders
After compiling 350 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in 2017, Washington is in a position battle during camp with Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin and Jalen Richard … Washington was the first Red Raider running back to register back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons during the 2014-15 campaigns since former Doak Walker Award winner Byron Hanspard in 1995 and 1996 ... He is one of only five players in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards twice in a career.
Davis Webb - Quarterback, New York Giants
Webb enters training camp as the clear backup to Eli Manning, and should get plenty of opportunities to solidify is spot this preseason ... Webb was the 87th pick (3rd round) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, after a collegiate career that included three years at Texas Tech, two as the starting quarterback. Set a school record with at least one TD pass in each of the first 18 starts of his career.
Derrick Willies - Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
Willies is in a position battle in Browns camp to make the 53-man roster as a wide receiver, hauling a long touchdown pass during a scrimmage earlier this week to help his case … After transferring to Tech before his junior season, Willies amassed 592 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a Red Raider … He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns.
Players Mentioned
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