During the first week of fall practice, senior split end Marcus Kennard looked as impressive as any member of Texas Tech’s deep receiving unit.

But with a unit as talented as Tech’s, there is never any time to rest.

Kennard returned to practice this week after missing most of last week with an injured hamstring. After a rough session Tuesday, during which he dropped a couple passes, Kennard finds himself playing catch up.

“He’s one of those guys that’s on the bubble,” Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He’s got people in front of him. When we sit in there (in the meeting room) and talk depth chart, his name doesn’t come up right now. There’s other guys in front of him that are performing.

"That’s the beauty of having competition. I think he’ll respond as a lot of guys have to respond when they don’t have their better days.”

Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown said on Saturday the competition for two-deep at the outside receiver positions was down to five players: Kennard, Eric Ward, Bradley Marquez, Darrin Moore and Javon Bell.

Of those five, Kennard and Ward are the two players slated at the split-end position, but Marquez received some repetitions at that spot Tuesday.

With the race so tight, the final four days of camp will be key for players fighting for those final spots. Kennard, who caught 12 passes for 182 yards as a junior last season, is no exception.

“We don’t play favorites out here,” Tuberville said. “The best players are going to play in the games coming up, and we’ve finally got some competition, which will make everybody better.”