Texas Tech's Terrance Carter Jr. Comes Alive with 'Dominant' Connection

LUBBOCK -- Texas Tech's receiving corps has fallen below expectations through the first five games of the season, but Saturday's Week 5 win over Colorado gave us a glimpse of one of the Red Raiders' most dynamic offensive threats in top form.

Tight end Terrance Carter Jr., a preseason All-Big 12 selection and likely top tight end prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft cycle, brought in a team-high eight receptions for 67 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that put the No. 12 Red Raiders in position for a 29-7 win.

Tech's offense has gotten off to slow starts in each of their five games this season, but Carter has still found a strong connection with redshirt sophomore quarterback Will Hammond, whose playing in his first season as the full-time starter.

"Our connection started honestly last year even when we had Behren Morton,” Carter said postgame in Boulder. "Will was a guy that always put in extra work even though he wasn't the starter. He treated himself like the starter, and our connection has been dominant and getting better and better every day."

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Week 5 proved to be Carter's best game of the season to this point. The junior Killeen, Texas native had missed the second and fourth games of the year with foot and shoulder injuries, respectively. Against the Buffaloes, Carter nearly doubled his season output in catches entering the game.

For Hammond, the stat sheet shows that it was his least productive game of the year with just 134 passing yards. However, he did not turn the ball over, a welcome sight after his three interceptions against Sam Houston the week prior.

Coach Joey McGuire is still getting his young quarterback settled into his role, but he knows Hammond will find success when he targets Carter.

"Whenever you have a really good tight end like Terrance, he becomes such a security blanket for the quarterback," McGuire said.

"He’s one of the best tight ends in the country. He came up big tonight. It was great to have him back, because he also has great leadership."

Carter and the rest of the Red Raiders' roster will heal their bumps and bruises this week as Tech doesn't play until Oct. 17, when they host Arizona State.