ESPN Big 12 Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

There's more to Texas Tech's receiving corps than just Michael Crabtree.

Sure, the returning Biletnikoff Award winner remains the Red Raiders' primary pass-catching threat. But a deep collection of talented players behind him are providing some balance that is notable in the Red Raiders' 5-0 start.

The development of players Lyle Leong and Adam James has been particularly noteworthy. Both players were productive receivers in the Red Raiders' 58-28 thumping of Kansas State. And both spent the 2006 season as grayshirts, waiting for their chance to compete for a job on Tech's roster.

Grayshirt players are scholarship players who are not allowed to practice with the team during their grayshirt season. The grayshirt year, like a redshirt year, does not affect the four years of eligibility.

Tech coach Mike Leach said that providing an extra season provides a chance for extra seasoning and development. Both players took advantage of the opportunity to develop strength and size during their seasons away from football.

"I think you have to have a guy you can rely on, because that extra year is the toughest," Leach said. "It's worked for several guys if you patience that they will eventually develop into good players, and I think they both have."

That maturity is a marked contrast from most recruits, who often have a different attitude when they arrive at college, Leach said.

"I think if you look at the end and work backwards, most players wish they could have redshirted and had an extra year," Leach said. "But on the front end with the recruiting services and the media, most of these guys think they are a step away from the NFL. I think you have to have a realistic perspective on these things."

Leong, a 7-foot high jumper in high school, arrived at college packing barely 150 pounds on his 6-foot frame. He kept working to develop more strength, at the same time watching Tech receivers for instruction on becoming a better receiver.

James, the son of former NFL standout and current ESPN analyst Craig James, also blossomed after arriving at Tech. He doesn't necessarily have the ideal size for a prototypical tight end at 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, but he can fill the role as an inside slot receiver for the Red Raiders previously occupied by standouts like Mickey Peters.

The patience for both former grayshirts paid off at Kansas State. Leong grabbed three receptions -- all for touchdowns -- to spark Tech's victory. And James notched a career-best four receptions as one of 11 Tech receivers who caught passes from quarterbacks Graham Harrell and Taylor Potts.

"We had a lot of receiving depth up and down our lineup," said Harrell, who matched his career high with six touchdown passes. "Ball distribution was huge for us. We wanted to throw it all over the field so they couldn't focus on any one player. Everybody was getting involved."

Earlier in the season, Leong missed the Red Raiders' game against SMU for an undisclosed reason and was moved to the scout team for several days.

Leach joked about Leong's emergence from the doghouse and back into the Red Raiders' receiving rotation.

"What he did to get there is highly classified. It's deeply guarded in the bowels of Texas Tech, and it's guarded by the dogs that you saw on Harry Potter. OK?" Leach said. "And as far as what he did to get out, he just made plays. He just focused on being a great team guy and made plays."

After that brief time away from the Red Raiders' travel squad, Leong returned with a different attitude than before.

"I just tried to take it as a learning experience and just not try to get down on myself," Leong said. "I know they were doing it for my best interests. I wanted to improve myself and get better."

And playing on the other side of Crabtree does have its advantages. His presence usually guarantees single coverage for Tech's other receivers, as well as the chance to observe one of the nation's top pass-catching threats on a daily basis in practice.

"It's a big advantage, because he's a great receiver and it takes a lot of pressure off of us," Leong said. "They have to keep an eye on him and it just opens things up for us. And I learn something from him every day."