A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNED TO RAIDERLAND, THIS TIME ON THE OPPOSING SIDELINE

A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNED TO RAIDERLAND, THIS TIME ON THE OPPOSING SIDELINE

Former Texas Tech wide receiver Joel Filani returned to Raiderland Saturday night, but this time he was coaching against the Red Raiders.

Filani came back to Lubbock as Abilene Christian’s co offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach as the Wildcats fell 33 to 10 against No. 12 Texas Tech.

For longtime Red Raider fans, Filani’s return brought back memories of one of the most productive receivers from the Mike Leach Air Raid era.

Filani played 50 games for Texas Tech from 2003 through 2006, finishing his career with 175 receptions, 2,626 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns. He still ranks among the program’s career leaders in receiving yards and touchdowns.

His biggest seasons came during his final two years. Filani caught 65 passes for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns in 2005 before producing 91 receptions, 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior in 2006. He earned First Team All Big 12 honors following both seasons.

Filani also delivered one of the biggest performances in Texas Tech bowl history. He caught 11 passes for 162 yards during the Red Raiders’ historic comeback against Minnesota in the 2006 Insight Bowl. Tech overcame a 31 point deficit in what was then the largest comeback in NCAA bowl history.

His career included two games with more than 200 receiving yards. Filani recorded a then school record 255 yards against Kansas State in 2005 and added 212 yards against Baylor the following season.

The Tennessee Titans selected Filani in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. After his playing career ended, he entered coaching and eventually returned to Texas Tech as an assistant from 2019 through 2021.

He later joined Abilene Christian, where his work with the receivers quickly produced results. Javon Gipson recorded 1,022 receiving yards and earned All America honors in 2025 under Filani’s coaching.

Filani was not the only familiar name connected to the ACU offense Saturday. Former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell is also part of the Wildcats’ staff, sharing offensive coordinator responsibilities with his former Red Raider receiver.

Filani’s playing career earned him a place in Texas Tech’s 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame class, with his induction ceremony scheduled for Sept. 25 in Lubbock.

Saturday’s game ended with Texas Tech winning by 23 points, but seeing Filani back inside the stadium served as another reminder that the impact of the Air Raid era continues long after the final pass.

Once a Red Raider, always part of the story.

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