Watch: Texas Tech Sophomore Channels Odell for CFB's Best Play of Week 1
It’s only the first full week of the college football season, but we already have a strong contender for catch of the year.
Texas Tech got blown out by Mississippi on Saturday, 47-27, but the play many people are talking about is the spectacular one-handed catch by the Red Raiders’ T.J. Vasher.
T.J. Vasher, this is absurd. pic.twitter.com/9KmKgTWEHq
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 1, 2018
It happened in the first quarter with Texas Tech on the Ole Miss 46 yard line. Tech quarterback McLane Carter rolled to his right and fired a bullet down the sidelines toward the sophomore receiver.
It looked like the ball would sail over his head, but Vasher used all of his 6-foot-6 frame, and considerable wingspan, to leap into the air to make an incredible one-handed catch.
“Wow, that was Odell Beckham-style,” said ESPN announcer Mark Jones.
TJ Vasher, catch of the year? pic.twitter.com/HwisJbgedF
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 1, 2018
Vasher not only caught the ball completely extended with one hand, but he managed to hold on to it as he crashed to the ground.
It was good for a 31-yard gain and set up a 15-yard touchdown run by Da’Leon ward to tie the game at 7-7.
The catch of the year in CFB happened right in front of me. Good luck topping that one by Texas Tech’s TJ Vasher. WOW!!
— John Harris (@jharrisfootball) September 1, 2018
The celebration was short lived as Mississippi’s Jaylon Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and Ole Miss never looked back on its way to the win.
To make matters worse for Tech, Carter left the game later in the first quarter with a leg injury and didn’t return. Freshman Alan Bowman took over behind center.
Vasher had four catches for 66 yards.
Future #NFL studs to watch in 1st round of games today:
AJ Brown, WR Ole Miss
DK Metcalf, WR Ole Miss
TJ Vasher, WR Texas Tech
Rodney Anderson, RB Oklahoma
CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma
Devin Singletary, RB FAU
Jalen Reagor, WR TCU
Darius Anderson, RB TCU
Bryan Edwards, WR South Car— Travis May (@FF_TravisM) September 1, 2018
“Whew, that boy’s a play-maker. That was a hell of a catch, really. I enjoyed watching him play today. He really balled out,” Tech defensive tackle Broderick Washington said of Vasher after the game, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Texas Tech takes on Lamar next week, while Mississippi plays Southern Illinois.
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