Texas Tech’s transfer portal party has slowed down, but a new name has emerged as a target for the Red Raiders. Penn State wide receiver Omari Evans is scheduled to visit Texas Tech in the coming days, along with Tennessee, Washington and Syracuse, multiple sources including On3 Sports’ Hayes Forcett are reporting. That’s what it means.
Evans has been a key component of Penn State’s offense this year. As a junior, he completed 21 passes for 458 yards and five TDs. This was an impressive average of 19.8 yards per catch.
The Nittany Lions’ passing game revolved primarily around Tyler Warren, the nation’s top tight end, who caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, but Evans also played for Penn State this year. He was an important figure to Dai. He was the team’s second-leading receiver among wideouts and a big-play threat who led the team in yards per reception.
2024 was the 6-foot, 190-pounder’s best season to date. In his last two seasons in college, he caught just nine passes for 149 yards and two scores.
News: WR Omari Evans, who committed to Penn State, tells @on3sports he will visit the following schools:
•Tennessee
•Washington
•Texas Tech University
•SyracuseEvans has totaled 21 receptions for 415 yards and 5 TDs this season https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/2Bs9MDGUfe
— Hayesfawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 16, 2025
However, many Red Raiders fans may be wondering why the program is interested in Evans. That’s because the program is in very good condition at the receiving site.
Caleb Douglas and Coy Eakin will return next season after finishing second and third on the team in catches and yards, respectively, this fall. The duo combined for 109 receptions, 1,529 yards and 13 touchdowns, each far exceeding the numbers Evans recorded at Happy Valley.
Additionally, the program has already signed wide receiver Reggie Virgil from Miami (Ohio). In 2024, he caught 41 passes for 816 yards and nine touchdowns, making him one of the top prizes in the portal frenzy this offseason.
So it’s natural to wonder how many passes will be needed to feed all the hungry wide receivers the Red Raiders will have on the roster in 2025. Given that Evans only played in a run-heavy offense that didn’t feature him, would he want to play on a team that guarantees him more chances than Texas Tech next season?
But we learned this offseason that if the Red Raiders really want to acquire a certain player from the portal, they will make it happen thanks to the vast financial resources the program devotes to recruiting. That might encourage players like Evans to call Lubbock home. So stay tuned for news about Evans in the coming days. He is a player linked to Texas Tech and should be a Red Raider. Because he could give Texas Tech one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country this fall.