2021 Football Roster
Roster
Sparkman, J.J.

Jersey Number 84
J.J. Sparkman
- Position:
- Wide Receiver
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- Longview, Texas
- High School:
- Pine Tree
Bio
2023 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Appeared in 12 games with one start during final season as a Red Raider … utilized in his traditional wide receiver role but also as an effective run blocker for Tahj Brooks due to his larger size … made two catches for nine yards on the season … had one reception for one yards versus Tarleton State (9/16) and then another catch for eight yards at Kansas (11/11) … credited with appearing in 133 offensive snaps by Pro Football Focus … was one of Texas Tech’s highest-graded offensive players for run blocking at 76.7 overall … inserted into the game offensively for 85 running plays compared to 48 passing … graded out at 90.0 or above as a run blocker twice on the season by PFF at Baylor (10/7 - 90.5) and against UCF (11/18 - 92.5) … NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL: elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal following the regular season … was not with the team for Texas Tech’s victory in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl.
2022 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
Appeared in 11 games as a sophomore with three starts as an outside receiver … missed two games early in Big 12 play against Oklahoma State and West Virginia due to injury … closed the year with 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown … majority of his receiving numbers came in the first five games of the year … averaged 10.7 yards per catch on the year … credited with playing in 237 offensive snaps by Pro Football Focus as well as an additional 64 on special teams … regular member of the kickoff return unit and then joined punt return team late in the season … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: combined for four catches during non-conference play with one against both Murray State (9/3) and N.C. State (9/17), resulting in 14 and 17 yards each … had two catches for 15 yards in the overtime victory over Houston (9/10) … opened Big 12 play with a career-high four receptions for 35 yards in the win over Texas (9/24) … followed with three catches for 23 yards the next week at Kansas State (10/1) … final three catches of the year came at TCU (11/5) where he set a career high with 46 receiving yards … performance included a 33-yard touchdown strike from Tyler Shough with 8:38 remaining in the third quarter that gave the Red Raiders a 17-13 lead … hauled in deep pass down left side over the defender while falling on his back for one of the top catches of the season … earned his third start of the year the next week versus Kansas (11/12) … was also in the starting lineup against both Texas and K-State.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
Displayed his potential as a key option in the Texas Tech passing game late into redshirt freshman season … listed in the wide receiver rotation coming out of preseason camp … appeared in nine games overall during his debut season as a Red Raider … missed four games during Big 12 play due to injury … caught seven passes for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the majority of which came during final stretch of the season … also made one tackle via special teams as part of the kickoff unit … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: made his first career catch versus Florida International (9/18), which resulted in a nine-yard gain … proceeded to miss four of the first seven games during Big 12 play … saw action at Texas (9/25), versus Kansas State (10/23) and at Oklahoma (10/30), the final of which resulted in possibly his best performance of the season … recorded season highs with three receptions for 37 yards against the Sooners, while also catching a touchdown from 17 yards out … pass from Donovan Smith was highlight-worthy, sending him up and over the Oklahoma defensive back for his first career touchdown … followed with one catch versus Iowa State (11/13) before recording his lone tackle of the year in the regular-season finale at Baylor (11/27) … made another eye-catching catch in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, hauling in a 14-yard strike from Smith to give the Red Raiders a 27-7 lead with two seconds remaining in the third quarter … went up and over the Mississippi State defender for a catch that later appeared on ESPN’s “You got Moss’d” segment … was part of two catches for 29 yards in the win over the Bulldogs (12/28).
2020 SEAS0N (FRESHMAN)
Did not see any game action after suffering a preseason injury that kept him off the field for duration of the year.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Pine Tree High School in Longview, Texas … tall wide receiver who will add big-play depth as an outside receiver … first team All-District 9-5A selection as both a senior and junior … helped lead the Pirates to the playoffs as a team captain his senior year … put together his best season as a senior, catching 39 passes for 725 yards and eight touchdowns … averaged an impressive 18.6 yards per catch … recorded more than 700 receiving yards as a junior and scored 10 touchdowns through the air … also notched 475 receiving yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore year … multi-sport athlete who also played basketball and competed in the high jump and 400 meters for the Pirate track and field program … three-star prospect according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri.
PERSONAL
Jalynn “J.J.” Sparkman ... son of Terry and Jackie Sparkman ... brother to Terri Tyrell ... a general studies major.
Appeared in 12 games with one start during final season as a Red Raider … utilized in his traditional wide receiver role but also as an effective run blocker for Tahj Brooks due to his larger size … made two catches for nine yards on the season … had one reception for one yards versus Tarleton State (9/16) and then another catch for eight yards at Kansas (11/11) … credited with appearing in 133 offensive snaps by Pro Football Focus … was one of Texas Tech’s highest-graded offensive players for run blocking at 76.7 overall … inserted into the game offensively for 85 running plays compared to 48 passing … graded out at 90.0 or above as a run blocker twice on the season by PFF at Baylor (10/7 - 90.5) and against UCF (11/18 - 92.5) … NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL: elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal following the regular season … was not with the team for Texas Tech’s victory in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl.
2022 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
Appeared in 11 games as a sophomore with three starts as an outside receiver … missed two games early in Big 12 play against Oklahoma State and West Virginia due to injury … closed the year with 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown … majority of his receiving numbers came in the first five games of the year … averaged 10.7 yards per catch on the year … credited with playing in 237 offensive snaps by Pro Football Focus as well as an additional 64 on special teams … regular member of the kickoff return unit and then joined punt return team late in the season … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: combined for four catches during non-conference play with one against both Murray State (9/3) and N.C. State (9/17), resulting in 14 and 17 yards each … had two catches for 15 yards in the overtime victory over Houston (9/10) … opened Big 12 play with a career-high four receptions for 35 yards in the win over Texas (9/24) … followed with three catches for 23 yards the next week at Kansas State (10/1) … final three catches of the year came at TCU (11/5) where he set a career high with 46 receiving yards … performance included a 33-yard touchdown strike from Tyler Shough with 8:38 remaining in the third quarter that gave the Red Raiders a 17-13 lead … hauled in deep pass down left side over the defender while falling on his back for one of the top catches of the season … earned his third start of the year the next week versus Kansas (11/12) … was also in the starting lineup against both Texas and K-State.
2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
Displayed his potential as a key option in the Texas Tech passing game late into redshirt freshman season … listed in the wide receiver rotation coming out of preseason camp … appeared in nine games overall during his debut season as a Red Raider … missed four games during Big 12 play due to injury … caught seven passes for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the majority of which came during final stretch of the season … also made one tackle via special teams as part of the kickoff unit … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: made his first career catch versus Florida International (9/18), which resulted in a nine-yard gain … proceeded to miss four of the first seven games during Big 12 play … saw action at Texas (9/25), versus Kansas State (10/23) and at Oklahoma (10/30), the final of which resulted in possibly his best performance of the season … recorded season highs with three receptions for 37 yards against the Sooners, while also catching a touchdown from 17 yards out … pass from Donovan Smith was highlight-worthy, sending him up and over the Oklahoma defensive back for his first career touchdown … followed with one catch versus Iowa State (11/13) before recording his lone tackle of the year in the regular-season finale at Baylor (11/27) … made another eye-catching catch in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, hauling in a 14-yard strike from Smith to give the Red Raiders a 27-7 lead with two seconds remaining in the third quarter … went up and over the Mississippi State defender for a catch that later appeared on ESPN’s “You got Moss’d” segment … was part of two catches for 29 yards in the win over the Bulldogs (12/28).
2020 SEAS0N (FRESHMAN)
Did not see any game action after suffering a preseason injury that kept him off the field for duration of the year.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Pine Tree High School in Longview, Texas … tall wide receiver who will add big-play depth as an outside receiver … first team All-District 9-5A selection as both a senior and junior … helped lead the Pirates to the playoffs as a team captain his senior year … put together his best season as a senior, catching 39 passes for 725 yards and eight touchdowns … averaged an impressive 18.6 yards per catch … recorded more than 700 receiving yards as a junior and scored 10 touchdowns through the air … also notched 475 receiving yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore year … multi-sport athlete who also played basketball and competed in the high jump and 400 meters for the Pirate track and field program … three-star prospect according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri.
PERSONAL
Jalynn “J.J.” Sparkman ... son of Terry and Jackie Sparkman ... brother to Terri Tyrell ... a general studies major.
Texas Tech Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
Highlights: Kent State
Saturday, September 06
Behind the Mic - Kent St. vs TTU
Saturday, September 06
Behren Morton Mic'd Up on TNT Pregame Show
Saturday, September 06