Think back to this time last season.
Tech junior wide receiver Devin Lauderdale was coming off of a memorable season opener against Sam Houston Sate.
Lauderdale reeled in eight catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns – making most of us think he could be Tech’s next big thing.
However, off the field issues, which included a suspension, had us rethinking whether or not he would still be on the team during the 2016 season.
But Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said at his weekly availability to preview their matchup with Stephen F. Austin, that Lauderdale was a ‘different young man’ in fall camp.
It’s night and day. The young man I’ve seen this summer through training camp is a different young man than what we saw previously. I think he got a taste of the real world and he knew what he had lost and didn’t ever want to feel that again,” Kingsbury said. “So he’s been focused. He’s been locked down. He’s been early to everything. He’s been working harder than he’s ever worked. So he’s had his best camp by far. It’s been fun to see. It’s been good for those young wide receivers to see the way he’s worked, the way he approaches every practice, and I’m very proud of him.”
I’ve seen a lot of maturity. A guy who really came in off a little bit of the suspension, coming in ready to play and ready to prove why he should be here and what he has,” Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “And you saw it a little bit with Jakeem last year. A guy that was really out to prove something, and I’m seeing that in Devin Lauderdale this year.
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