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Pros- Crabtree has good size and strength. He shows great body control and extremely reliable hands. He is not afraid to go over the middle and will sacrifice his body to make the catch. The former Red Raider also shows good leaping ability and gains position over defenders when the ball is in the air. Crabtree could have the highest football IQ of any receiver--he understands the game and knows what needs to be done for the QB to get him the ball. Once he gets the ball he is elusive and runs physically to break tackles. He is a natural playmaker and was a touchdown machine in college.

Cons- Crabtree lacks the straight line speed the other top receivers in this class have. He put up unbelievable numbers but many question what his stats would look like had he played in a different type of offense or against more competitive defenses than the Big 12 offered the past two seasons. He was not asked to run complicated routes and did not face a lot of double teams. Durability was a huge issue and he missed the Combine because of a broken foot. The fact that he had to have surgery and hasn’t been able to workout is a huge concern for his draft stock.

Scouts Take- There is no denying that Crabtree was an absolute stud during his two years at Texas Tech. He put up some of the best collegiate numbers of all-time with 227 catches, 3,097 yards, and 40 touchdowns…in just 25 games. After recent top-ten colossal busts at the receiver position, there are many scouts and evaluators that feel teams should wait until later to address the position. However, Crabtree is not David Terrell, Charles Rodgers, or Mike Williams. Those players relied on big frames and leaping ability. Crabtree relies on hands and knowledge. He understands how to get open and make plays after the catch. He has great concentration and gives great effort on every play. He benefited by playing in a spread offense that was devoted to finding creative ways to get him the ball. That allowed Crabtree to show his talent and he never disappointed. He should be the first receiver off the board on April 25th. When his foot heals, look for Crabtree to be the number one receiver on his team and in the Pro Bowl for years to come.

School Bio

Decision Time: Michael Crabtree - 1.14.09

3.20.09 - "The leading receiver in the NFL last year was Wes Welker, who came from our quote/unquote system. Two years in a row he’s led the league in receiving. He runs around a 4.8 and just had a happy experience at the Pro Bowl. And the fact that Michael Crabtree is only five or six inches taller and faster that means somehow he’s magically going to be a failure? I guess I’m not buying that either. And if our system is so flawed, you tell me how it is that simultaneously, for two years in a row, we had the leading receiver in the NFL and the leading receiver in college football."

"Crabtree is one of the most competitive people I have ever dealt with. He believes he can get the ball and wants the ball virtually every play and we teach and encourage those types of things. The amazing knack that Crabtree had was continuing to finish plays and when they appeared to be over, making something happen." - College Football Insiders Interview With Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach

1.13.09 - Michael Crabtree said Tuesday he's giving up his final two years of eligibility because he thinks he's ready for pro football. The first challenge is finding out how high he'll go in the draft. "As far as I've seen, top 5. That's what I'm striving for," Crabtree said. In a far more surprising move, also leaving Lubbock is junior defensive end Brandon Williams, who was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team after leading the conference with his 13 sacks.

1.5.09 - Next Level Scouting, Inc. is reporting that Texas Tech red-shirt sophomore wide receiver Michael Crabtree has informed several staff members of his intention to enter this year's draft following the team's Cotton Bowl loss to Mississippi. According to those close to the situation he should make his intentions known at an on-campus press conference some time this week, but has already started to interview agents and put together a support staff for the purpose of training for the NFL Combine and creating PR and marketing opportunities for him.

12.29.08 - As hard as it may be to believe, compared to his 2007 campaign, Michael Crabtree is having an off year in 2008. In 2007, Crabtree hauled in 134 passes for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns. His efforts helped him earn several accolades including consensus All-America honors, winner of the Biletnikoff Award as well as being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. This season, Crabtree has 93 receptions for 1,135 yards and 18 touchdowns and once again won the Biletnikoff Award. Up until the Oklahoma game, Crabtree had scored a touchdown in every game in 2008. At 6-3, 215, Crabtree has the size every NFL team looks for in a wide receiver with speed, soft hands and athletic ability to go along with it. With quarterback Graham Harrell graduating, there is little chance Crabtree can increase his draft stock by returning to Texas Tech for another season. His numbers speak for themselves and with a lean wide receiver class in 2009, Crabtree will likely be the first player at his position taken off the board.

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Texas Tech University)