Tulsa World: Dream catchers

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Dream catchers

OSU receiver Dez Bryant (left) and Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree each rank among the top 10 in the nation in yards per game, total receiving yards and scoring. Bryant leads the nation in scoring with 11.3 points per game.

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/4/2008 2:16 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/2008 3:23 AM

Audio: Listen to OSU coach Mike Gundy on Monday during the Big 12 coaches’ football teleconference.

OSU's Bryant, Tech's Crabtree huge assets at wide receiver

STILLWATER — A few hours after Dez Bryant completed a nine-catch, 171-yard, four-touchdown performance against Iowa State, Michael Crabtree made a TD catch that ESPN.com described as "the greatest play in the history of the Big 12 Conference."

A compelling sidebar to this Saturday's OSU-Texas Tech contest is the presence of two gifted sophomore wide receivers — OSU's Bryant and Texas Tech's Crabtree.

For teams that average a combined total of 92 points and 1,071 yards per game, they are the clearly defined big-play specialists.

"I think (Bryant) is really good," Red Raider coach Mike Leach said. "There are a lot of good receivers in this conference ... but he's the fastest."

The No. 8 Cowboys face the No. 2 Red Raiders in a 7 p.m., ABC-televised Big 12 battle in Lubbock.

Texas Tech has an 11-game win streak — the longest in NCAA Division I-A.

OSU is 8-1 overall, 4-1 in the conference. Texas Tech (9-0, 5-0) seized first place in the Big 12 South with a 39-33 triumph over previously No. 1 Texas.

With one second left, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell and Crabtree connected for a 28-yard touchdown. Crabtree was well-defended by two Longhorns, but made the sideline catch at the 6-yard line, escaped a tackle attempt and scored to give Tech its most prominent victory in school history.

"I think Crab is the best there is in the country," Harrell said. "We knew we needed to make a play. I knew I had the best receiver in the country to my right."

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Crabtree, who was the 2007 Biletnikoff Award recipient as a redshirt freshman, has scored 37 touchdowns in his 22-game college career.

As a quarterback and defensive back at Dallas Carter High School, he was recruited as a receiver by Oklahoma State.

"Tech has had some really good receivers, right? But I'm not going to say that they are at the level of (Crabtree)," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "He's very impressive."

Against Texas, Crabtree had 10 catches for 127 yards. For the season, he has 70 receptions, ranking sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (102.3) and eighth in scoring (10.0 points per game on 15 touchdowns).

Bryant averages 17.6 yards per reception. In yards per game (117.1), he leads the Big 12 and ranks No. 2 nationally (a half-yard per game behind BYU's Austin Collie). Bryant leads the nation in scoring with 11.3 points per game. He has scored 17 touchdowns — 15 on receptions and two on punt returns.

"I knew that Dez was going to play a huge role," Cowboy quarterback Zac Robinson said. "Fortunately, we've been able to scheme things where we could get him the football. He's got the ability to take it to the house every time."

The 6-2, 210-pound Bryant has a total of 60 catches for 1,054 yards. No other Cowboy wide receiver has more than nine catches.

While Crabtree gets much of his yardage after collecting short passes, Bryant frequently gets open on deep routes. He has 17 receptions that covered at least 20 yards.

When asked about Crabtree, Bryant replied, "I don't think we're similar. We're just two different wideouts. He's in that offense, and I'm in this one. Totally different.

"Crabtree is a great player, and he makes great plays. You see it all the time."

ELITE PERFORMERS

A statistical comparison of wide receivers Dez Bryant (OSU) and

Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech):

Receptions: Bryant 60, Crabtree 70.

Yards per catch: Bryant 17.6, Crabtree 13.2.

Receiving yards per game: Bryant 117.1 (No. 1 in Big 12, No. 2 nationally), Crabtree 102.3 (No. 2 in Big 12, No. 6 nationally).

Scoring: Bryant 11.3 points per game on 17 touchdowns (No. 1 in Big 12, No. 1 nationally), Crabtree 10.0 points per game on 15 touchdowns (No. 2 in Big 12, No. 8 nationally).

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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