Tech’s Crabtree to enter NFL draft
BY DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The next Crab grabs will come with Mike Crabtree wearing a different uniform.
Texas Tech’s star sophomore will enter the NFL draft, his father said Friday, ending a brilliant college career after two years.
The Tech flanker’s father, also named Michael Crabtree, said the expectation that Crabtree will be taken among the top 10 overall picks in the April draft is too enticing to pass up.
“We thought about (him returning to Tech),” the elder Crabtree said. “Probably be better to go now. He had small injuries this year. We didn’t want there to be any major injuries or anything (in the future) to keep him from going pro.”
Crabtree will have a news conference Tuesday to discuss his decision, according to his cousin, David Wells. The news conference will be in his hometown of Dallas, a Tech spokesman said.
Crabtree’s father said the NFL draft advisory board informed Crabtree that he should go high in the first round. The elder Crabtree said his son could go as high as fourth overall to Seattle or seventh overall to Oakland, both teams in need of receiving help.
“It should be in the top 10,” he said. “That was one of the main factors.”
Before he arrived at Tech, Crabtree hadn’t played receiver since his sophomore year at Dallas Carter High School. He’d been a quarterback his last two schoolboy seasons, but he adapted in a hurry when Tech put him at flanker.
After sitting out his first year on campus, Crabtree won the Biletnikoff Award each of the last two years as the top wide receiver in college football. He broke NCAA freshman records in 2007 with 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns.
This year, he finished with 97 catches for 1,165 yards and 19 TDs.
Even at a program known over the past decade for its passing offense, Crabtree needed just two seasons to break the school records for career receiving yards and career touchdown receptions. He broke the latter — 30 by Jarrett Hicks — with ease, finishing with 41.
His legacy also will include one of the great plays in Tech history — and some nationally have said, college football history. His 28-yard touchdown catch with one second left to beat Texas on Nov. 1 gave the Red Raiders their first win in 84 seasons over a No. 1-ranked team.
He didn’t go out the way he wanted, however. In last Friday’s 47-34 Cotton Bowl loss to Mississippi, Crabtree finished with a career-low 30 yards receiving on four receptions, which tied a career low.
In that game, he continued to be bothered by a right high ankle sprain that kept him out of the second half of the regular-season finale against Baylor. In the Oct. 18 game at Texas A&M, he also suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot.
The foot injury, his father said, wasn’t nearly as troublesome.
“That didn’t bother him near as much as his ankle,” the elder Crabtree said. “He could run straight ahead on it, but when he tried to cut he couldn’t do anything.”
Crabtree had an MRI exam performed on the ankle this week in Lubbock and received favorable results on Friday, his father said.
“It could be rehabbed,” the elder Crabtree said. “It’ll take time to heal. It doesn’t require surgery or anything.”
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On the one hand, sad to see Crabtree go; on the other hand, thrilled that he has the gifts to represent Texas Tech with character and integrity as he succeeds at the sport’s highest level. Congratulations to Michael . . . and best of the very best! Wreck ‘em Tech!!!
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He’s said this before. I think it’s too entising for him not Michael. Sometime parent’s deisres negative affect the child’s. Oh well thanks and best of luck to you Crab if this is indeed true.
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Sorry for my typos. Just upset about the news. :-)
Got to go back to my 4th grade classwork…don’t want any homework this weekend.
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I’ll be sad to see him go, but that’s probably his best decision. May as well get his money now, (just in case he gets injured) he’s already proven himself as the best college receiver of all time. Should be pretty decent in the pros. I think it may even help the offense for tech; spread the wealth a little more and keep developing the young guys…..Yoooooooooooouuuuu, Crank that Crabtree!!!
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maybe this has to do with mike leach not signing the contract. maybe he doesn’t want to play for another coach. leach might go to boston college you just never know. there are rumors that myers and leach don’t see eye to eye. either way crabs is awesome and best of luck.
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I agree with Crabtree leaving early, he’s got to much money guaranteed to him. His father is probably saying Yes! I can retire early.
Wreck em Tech!!
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“Crabtree…pulls free…TOUCHDOWN, RED RAIDERS, WITH A SECOND TO GO…”
Tear down the McDougal statue on 8th and put one up of Crab instead.
Thanks for the memories, Michael Crabtree. We’ll be rooting for you. You can always come back to school, but you can’t always go pro.
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I’m delighted that he is able to go to the next level. He has been pure class, on the field and in his personal life. Thanks Mike and the best of luck!
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WATCH THE BEST COLLEGE GAME IN 2008!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/81614346
GO RED RAIDERS IN 2009!!!
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Why does a kid go to college??? To get an education.
Why do you get an education??? To provide for your family.
If he can go in the top 10 and make a few million dollars… good for him. He can always return and get his education… but the NFL opportunity will not always be there. However, I think he is a smart kid and will eventually return to get his degree.
Maybe he will tell Seattle he will sign for a little less money if they will draft Graham with their second round selection. Their QB is getting old and is not healthy… and the back ups are horrible. Wouldn’t is be great to see them together again in the NFL???
I would become an instant Seattle fan!
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Nice job Crabtree! We will miss seeing you on Saturdays but will look forward to seeing you on Sundays!
Thank you for two amazing seasons! You will always be a Red Raider! Don’t forget to give us a shout out in your intros!
God Bless you in your career to come!
Wreck ‘Em!
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“His legacy also will include one of the great plays in Tech hisotry — and some nationally have said, college football history.”
The greatest play in college football history ? I have not heard anyone mention that play as the greatest in college football history. I have heard it mentioned as the greatest during the 2008 season…………but not the history of college football.
Anyone ever heard of Doug Flutie ?
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response to anyone who thinks he should have stayed – WHY??? Any athlete talented enough to perform at the highest level of their chosen profession SHOULD be encourage to do so. The truth of the matter is that black athletes (some white) are exploited by college athletics. Anytime I see someone get the chance to play at the next level, I say go for it! Go get some of the money that the colleges are getting each year by the millions and none of it is going to the athletes (legally).
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That’s why you play football. Time to ursher in a new era in Texas Tech Football. Go #27
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Give him four years. He’ll be in a cell next to Bam Morris asking each other “what’d we do wrong”?
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I don’t see him doing well at the combines. I wish him them best but I think he is more or less a product of the system. The sum of the parts equaled a successful Michael Crabtree.
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jeff – just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t make it not true. A lot of the coverage from ESPN has some of their main College sportscasters calling it to be possibly the greatest play in College Football. Go get ‘em Crab, you go get your dream
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I’ll be watching for Crab in the NFL. I wish him the best.
It was interesting that the article did not mention the fact that Leach’s not signing his contract was a consideration, as was mentioned in a previous article. Did the interviewer not think to ask if Leach’s yearly threat to leave was a factor?
How long will Tech let Leach damage recruiting efforts like he is? (Offensive lineman Clark is considering committing somewhere else). And will Leach be flying all over the country next year, looking for a better job one month before the guys he has been recruiting are going to make a long term commitment to Tech? Why should they make a long term commitment when Leach doesn’t seem to want to?
This is really getting old in a hurry.
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Another bi-product of the annual Leach “Interview Bowl”!
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Well you really can’t blame him can you?
There’s no reason to blame him because there are numerous ways that could happen. The most I was concerned about is him gettin another injury but even serious than the ones he has now. So congrats, Crab it’ll be a good experience and we will all hope the best for you
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You will be missed. Best of Luck where ever you go. Remember you will be a Texas Tech Red Raider and Saturdays in Lubbock Texas will not be the same. Doris Bradley
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britton sr! welcome back its been awhile! i really missed your comments! and i have no worry’s that tech will use your son and detron lewis along with lyle leong for an unstopable offense in 09
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Sam and TDStar must be from A&M or Texas. They are trying to get rid of Leach so they don’t have to play against him; or possibly hurt our recruiting.
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Dick, where do you get that nonsense? Crabtree is a great kid. If you don’t have something good to say, then don’t say anything. Go Crabtree! Make us proud! It was a thrill to watch you play the last two years.
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Fan, do you know “The Crab Man”?
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Gold digging daddy!
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Thanks for the memories Crab :)
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Thanks Crabmeister for a job well done!
Now a new era at Tech could truly begin if we had a coach & AD that were honored by their jobs instead of burdened by them. – actually I wouldn’t care one bit except their antics are hurting the program.
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Get education so you don’t blow those millions in the few years you play and end up with nothing. Be smart. Hire me as your investment advisor. :-)
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In response to Dick saying that he will end up in jail with Bam Morris. First off Bam is no longer in jail and that is just shallow thinking on your part. Why not wish him the best?
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Wow, things certainly change in a month.
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Dick Your name says it all. Crab wil be fine. I wish him the best.
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Thanks for everything Mr. Saturday! Good luck at the next level We will all be watching. Guns Up!
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Leach has already said he will be back next year whether he signs the extension or not. He told that to Crab and his Dad after the Cotton Bowl. If Leach is here next year, why would Crab care about the year after?
In addition, the kid is going to be offered a contract that will change his family’s life for generations. It is a wonderful opportunity and everyone can only hope the same for their kids and themselves.
Crab, thanks for helping to make Tech relevant and a lot of fun to watch. My only gripe is that you didn’t take care of things to be able to play as a freshman. You have more than made up for it, though.
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As each day passes, it appears more likely that Leach will not be here after next season….Now is that good or bad? Half empty or half full?
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And I was hoping that we will get our first Heisman Trophy for Tech next year. He was going to be our best opportunity.
Hopefully we don’t have to wait another 80 years or so.
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Texascane, the school Crabtree went to was the problem, not Crabtree. They screwed things up with the transcriipts.
We will all miss the highlight reel plays Crabtree provided almost every week. It is a shame he was hurt. I think things might have turned out just a bit better for the team as he simply was not himself after the first injury, and especially after the second one.
I do hope he can heal good enough to shine in the upcoming combines. If not, I don’t think it would hurt him too much. The NFL folks already are well aware of what Crabtree brings to the table. And they like his work ethic.
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Is it me or does it seem like Crabtree Sr. is pushing his son to go pro now? In my opinion, he should stay in school for at least another season. Get his ankle healthy in the off-season, then come back and win the Heisman his junior year. Then go pro if he so decides. He could make a heck of a lot more money as a Heisman Trophy winner, than he could now. But if he does go ahead and go pro, let’s hope he has a career like Wes Welker, and not Bam Morris.
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He will make more money next year than his (current) college coach.
Duh!
But Leach needs to go. Anywhere. I’ve had enough of his belly-aching and pouting over his measly $2,000,000 a year contract. Enough already.
Art Briles. Come back home! Let’s get it on!
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IN RESPONSE TO SOAPSUDS:
GET A LIFE!!!!!!!
YOUR COMMENT ABOUT COACH LEACH SUCKS
YOUR THE WHINER. WHY DON’T YOU MOVE
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Best of Luck in Seattle Crabs…Lucky me, I will get to see him in seattle since I will be moving there in six monts. Truly sorry to see him leave Tech, but what a hell of a season. Guns up!
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Michael, thanks for the memories and God’s Blessing. You and Graham got Tech more positive publicity than it has had since the days of Donny Anderson. Guns Up!
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I just can’t wait until next year when we beat the aggies at home and we all run out on the field because we beat the aggies.
The jury is out on how well Crab will transition. TTU is a total system designed for big plays against bad defenses. The big 12 does not play defense. The bowl games proved it.
Maybe they can give Eric Morris a 6th and 7th year. It doesn’t matter who is at receiver.
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Ask Wes Welker how Tech’s offense translates for receivers in the pros.
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I’m sorry but that was not one of the greatest plays in college football history. The only place I have heard that said is in this newspaper. It was one of the greatest plays in 2008 but not history.
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A hail mary is the best play or a precision throw to a receiver who make defense miss him and balances the sideline as time nearly runs out? If you want talent that has to be near the top if you want entertaining lucky play’s there are several ball tosses I can think of that were fun to watch. Just my 2 cents.
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Surely there are some more thank yous and ways to phrase how great Crabtree is.
Let’s all try to think of how to make this thread last all spring so we don’t have to think about the defense, and recruiting, and Leach job-shopping (with or with-out a new contract).
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Thanks for two great years Crabs! Gonna miss ya. I will be watching you on Sunday’s! Wreck’em Tech!!!
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WATCH THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME IN 2008!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/81614346
GO RED RAIDERS IN 2009!!!
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Who-tha-hell is Dick anyway? And Soapsuds…I’m about tired of all the pro-Briles people. How about supporting who we have now? You have no clue what’s going on behind the scenes and it looks like you have no idea how to read what’s been written. Typical Tech fans is what’s keeping Tech typical.
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Who the hell is “Eddie P”
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Eddie P wants all Tech fans marching together (behind him).
Whatever is – is best.
Typical Lubbock deal.
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I think it is pathetic that his dad is more concerned with his son getting picked for the NFL than him furthering his education. All his dad is seeing is $$$ signs. Chances of him playing right away are slim to none especially with his ankle injury. I love Crabtree and think he is an awesome COLLEGE football player, but now he is going to get lost in the mix.
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If Leach returns without signing his contract having 2 years left, his job shopping will be even more frantic than ever. And recruits will be more hesitant than ever to come play for a coach who is doing everything he can to telegraph to the college football world that he wants a new job.
Maybe we should cut our losses before the talent drain brought on by his antics makes it more difficult for the next coach that wants to be here.
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Sam: You are absolutely correct sir!
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It’s really Lubbock that can’t get it done or keep it going.
A mayor that prayed for rain publicly, male dancers going to jail, sex shops being raided, a hockey team that went under, a professional baseball team that couldn’t make it, indoor football that folded (twice), professional female basketball that was a joke, all of the music festivals that have failed.
No wonder the folks in Austin get a kick out of Texas Tech/Lubbock trying to be a threat in sports.
My friends in Austin hide their cars during the Tech and Texas football weekend because they have Texas Tech logos.
One thing Lubbock must be good at is STD’s and teen pregnancy, we seem to know how to keep that stuff going….
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Anytime Crab plays against speed speed wins. Big 12 doesn’t play defense.
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can’t blame crab for going. that’s what i would do. you come to college to become a pro at something and make money at it. he’s the man and i wish him nothing but the best. what bothers me a little is the last i heard from crabtree the football player he said he was staying in college. after he said that, it wasn’t long before daddy crab was saying “they” hadn’t made a decision yet. i’m sure crabtree sr. has his son’s best interest in mind. in the end, it should be the player’s decision and only HE knows if he’s ready. he shouldn’t go just because i or anyone else thinks he should. he should do what’s best for him. good luck mike crabtree! it was a pleasure.
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First, we should all congratulate Crabtree for achieving his ambition of playing for pay in the NFL! Or, maybe, we should acknowledge his fathers ambition to finally participate in the bananza NFL bonus and contractual dollars “WINDFALL”!! Sometimes it makes one wonder what, in the eyes of the public, TT football program is attempting to accomplish!! Enough said–Just wonder what has happenend to the old College Education idea!! Certainly, it would be remiss to not express our gratitude to Michael for the many thrills on the football field as well as the recognition and praise brought to TT University and the Athletic program.
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Been a Tech football supporter for 35 years and Leach is the best thing to happen to Tech in all it’s football days. Lubbock is excited about the caliber of play and Tech does not need to return to the days of 26,000 fans in the stands when we play Southeast Louisiana and the likes! Tech footbal is more exciting than EVER and it is because of Leach’s style and teams! Go Crabtree!!!
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God speed Crab! Wreck em’ where ever you go & remember to always put your GUNS UP!!!
Can’ t think of a better way to spend a Sunday then watching Crab grab!!!!
GO TECH!
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We should have paid him more. What do you thunk Bubba?
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Good luck to Crabtree and to Harrell! Don’t forget we’re losing to offensive gods to the NFL this year if not three in Shannon Woods.
I’m looking forward to the next era of Potts, Britton, Lewis, Batch, Jeffers, Swindall, James and the list goes on. I think our future looks pretty bright.
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GOODLUCK CRAB, it would be great with your dallas connections, you might have a star on your hat, put amendola in the slot and T.O. ON THE MARKET AND LET ROMO have some real receivers and light up the board with williams on the other side.
CRABTREE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!has been from day one…….stay focused and true to yourself and do not develope into a problem like many of the nfl receivers do……….
good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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