Similar to fellow 2025 transfer Caleb Medford, Jerand Bradley also hails from Texas, having played high school football at Desoto High School in South Dallas. A composite three-star recruit (86), Bradley was recognized by ESPN as a four-star talent. He ranked as the 78th best overall receiver, the 82nd best player in Texas, and the 532nd best player in the 2021 recruiting class. His extensive list of high-major offers included Wisconsin, Nebraska, Arkansas, Baylor, SMU, and Houston. In the end, he committed to Matt Wells and Texas Tech.
Bradley’s high demand, surpassing his mid-three-star rating, is understandable given his impressive high school career. As a senior at Desoto, he accumulated 57 receptions for 784 yards and eight touchdowns. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 200 pounds, he was an ideal physical specimen for a wide receiver. In the red zone, he was a constant scoring threat, demonstrating surprising run-after-the-catch ability for his size. He earned first-team All-District-6A honors (a highly competitive district), third-team All-State recognition, and a spot in the Under Armour All-America game.
Before his time at Desoto, Bradley had an outstanding tenure at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas, a private Catholic institution known for dominating TAAPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools). In 2019, as a junior, he put up incredible stats: 96 receptions for 1,522 yards and 21 touchdowns, helping John Paul II reach the TAPPS Division I state title game.
Bradley redshirted as a true freshman in 2021, making four appearances and catching five passes for 99 yards. It’s a bit surprising that someone with his physical maturity sat out for a year, and Matt Wells, the former Texas Tech head coach now offensive coordinator at Kansas State, might share that sentiment. He was relieved of his duties at Texas Tech before the 2022 season, before getting a chance to work with Bradley.
As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Bradley emerged as a rising star in college football. He led the Red Raiders in receptions (51), receiving yards (744), and touchdowns (6), with three games surpassing 100 yards. He had an electrifying performance against Oklahoma, with eight receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown, helping Texas Tech to a thrilling 51-48 win.
He ranked fourth in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game, sixth in receiving touchdowns, and third in catches over 30 yards. Bradley earned honorable mention All-Big 12 and second-team Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic, along with Academic All-Big 12 first-team recognition.
Heading into the 2023 season, Bradley was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team and placed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, but things didn’t go as planned. After starting quarterback Tyler Shough was sidelined with a season-ending injury in the fourth game, Bradley struggled to connect with backup quarterback Behren Morton.
While he led Texas Tech in receptions with 51 in 2022, Xavier White led the team in 2023 with just 39 catches. The passing offense as a whole took a hit following Shough’s injury. Bradley finished the season with 36 receptions for 431 yards and four touchdowns, ultimately deciding to transfer as a redshirt junior.
At Boston College, Bradley’s 2024 season was disappointing. After leaving Texas Tech seeking more opportunities, he managed only six receptions for the season. It’s unclear what Boston College coach Bill O’Brien promised Bradley, but it’s clear that it wasn’t a significant role. He struggled to break into the rotation and faced a constantly changing quarterback situation. Once he was able to transfer again, his name was quickly in the portal.
What He Brings to Kansas State
Finally, Matt Wells will have the chance to work with Jerand Bradley in Kansas State. The 6’5”, 220-pound athlete possesses immense talent and should be an immediate upgrade for the Wildcats, whether playing on the boundary or in the field position. He could excel as a boundary threat, using his size and physicality to his advantage. Bradley is more than just a jump-ball receiver, as he’s shown the ability to gain yards after the catch.
At Texas Tech, he used his long strides and quick direction changes to rack up yards in the open field. Much like incoming transfer Jaron Tibbs, Bradley can break tackles and pick up tough first downs, something that Kansas State’s receiving corps lacked last season.
With Bradley on the field, Tibbs and returning top receiver Jayce Brown can move between boundary and slot positions, creating more dynamic matchups. Tibbs, who has experience playing all three receiver spots at Purdue, could be a versatile option for the Wildcats. The addition of Bradley should make Kansas State’s offense more balanced and force defenders to adjust to a power-receiving group.
Bradley is also a strong run blocker, which will help Kansas State’s run game, especially with talented backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson in the backfield. Long runs often result from effective downfield blocking, and Bradley is a better blocker than any of Kansas State’s regular receivers last season. This upgrade in blocking, along with Tibbs’ help, should contribute to a stronger run game and better passing results for quarterback Avery Johnson in 2025.
