Tariq J. "T.J." Vasher (born August 29, 1998) is an

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...

for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

Texas Tech Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship institution of the five- ...

Early years

Vasher grew up in

Wichita Falls, Texas Wichita Falls ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is the principal city of the Wichita Falls metropolitan area, Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Archer County, Tex ...

, and attended S. H. Rider High School, where he played basketball and football. As a senior, Vasher had 1,169 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 60 receptions and was named honorable mention Class 5A All-State and first-team Class 5A Dallas-Fort Worth All-Area. He was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Texas Tech over offers from

Ohio State The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one of the largest universities by enrollme ...

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

and

Mississippi State Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university in Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States. It is classified among "R ...

and also over offers to play college basketball at SMU,

Tulsa Tulsa ( ) is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tul ...

and

Boise State Boise State University (BSU) is a public research university in Boise, Idaho, United States. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church, it became an independent junior college in 1934 and has been awarding baccalaureate and master's degrees It ...

College career

As a true freshman, Vasher caught two passes for nine yards in the season opener against Stephen F. Austin but suffered a season-ending injury and was granted a medical redshirt. He returned the following year and had 29 receptions for 545 yards and six touchdowns. As a redshirt sophomore, Vasher had 54 receptions for 687 yards and seven touchdowns. He had 42 receptions for 515 yards and six touchdowns in his redshirt junior season. As a redshirt senior, Vasher played in seven games and finished the season with 19 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Vasher was signed as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

by the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

after the

2021 NFL draft The 2021 NFL draft was the 86th National Football League draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland, Ohio from April 29 to May ...

on May 14. On August 31, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list with a meniscus injury he suffered in college. He was waived on August 30, 2022.

San Antonio Brahmas

Vasher was selected by the XFL

San Antonio Brahmas The San Antonio Brahmas are a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Brahmas compete in the United Football League (UFL) as a member of the XFL Conference. The team is owned and operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha ...

in the Group 1 ninth round (67th overall) of the 2023 XFL Draft. He appeared in nine games with seven starts, making 16 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He re-signed with the team on February 1, 2024. He was released on April 8, 2024.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

On May 6, 2024, Vasher signed with the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He was released on June 1.

Houston Roughnecks

On October 3, 2024, Vasher signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL).

Personal life

Vasher's uncle,

Nathan Vasher Nathaniel DeWayne Vasher (born November 17, 1981) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a cornerback for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American for the Texas Longhorns ...

, is a former

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...

for the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

References

External links

Texas Tech Red Raiders bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasher, Tj Living people Players of American football from Wichita Falls, Texas American football wide receivers Texas Tech Red Raiders football players Dallas Cowboys players San Antonio Brahmas players 1998 births