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15 Greatest QB/WR Duos of All Time

By Nicholas Valdez

Aug 8, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Fred Biletnikoff during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Fred Biletnikoff during the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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2007: Texas Tech

Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree

The run-and-shoot blasted off well before the spread offense was refined by Mike Leach at Texas Tech. The moment Leach unleashed the offense that created even wider passing lanes for the air attack, he rose in the ranks among college coaches.

And before Leach coached for Washington State, he coached a quarterback and wide receiver who thrust Texas Tech once again into the eyes of national television viewers. In 2007, Graham Harrell threw and Michael Crabtree caught–everything.

Harrell and Crabtree romped down football fields. They made it look so simple that we all thought something had to be wrong with college football.

Leach’s offensive mantra–probably something along the lines of, you don’t have to worry about defense, if you score more points than your opponent–swept across the nation like a wind. Now, we’ve become accustomed to it.

Leach’s kind of offensive approach had been used by LaVell Edwards at BYU, by others even before him. The difference seemed to be one of magnitude, the total commitment.

Run? Why? Running’s slower to the goal line.

Harrell was first in the nation in pass attempts and pass completions for three straight seasons, spanning 2006-2008. In 2007, Harrell was also first in the NCAA in passing yards (5,705) and passing touchdowns (48), and second in pass completion percentage (71.8).

As far as Crabtree was concerned, the game was equally productive. He was first in the nation in receptions (134), first in receiving yards (1,962) and first in receiving touchdowns (22). Even while splitting receptions with Danny Amendola, who also had over 100 receptions and over 1,000 receiving yards in the ’07 season, Crabtree soared above receivers everywhere. In fact, Amendola’s presence makes Crabtree’s accomplishments more impressive.

Michael Crabtree won Consensus All-America honors and the Fred Biletnikoff Award in back to back seasons, 2007 and 2008. Graham Harrell won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 2007 and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2008.

The duo would spend the 2008 season together, a season in which their numbers continued to dominate, but the ’07 season was beyond magical for this quarterback-receiver combo.

Texas Tech went 9-4 in ’07, winning the Gator Bowl, 31-28, against Virginia. The Red Raiders finished the season ranked #22 in the AP Poll.

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