Lake Highlands High School graduate Andre Tillman is one of three players who’ll be inducted into the Texas Tech Football Ring of Honor in September. He played tight end for Texas Tech from 1971 to 1973.
Tillman attended the all-Black Hamilton Park School until it closed in 1969 to implement desegregation. He quickly became a standout on the Wildcat football team and district player of the year in basketball before graduating from LHHS in 1970.
At Tech, Tillman was named a first team All-American by the Associated Press as a senior in 1973 after earning 26 receptions for 428 yards and five touchdowns. His final touchdown came in the Gator Bowl with an 11-yard catch from Joe Barnes, giving the Red Raiders a 21-10 lead in the third quarter. Their win over No. 20 Tennessee marked just the second 11-win season in school history. He was selected to play in the Chicago Tribune All-Star Game and the Senior Bowl following his senior season.
Drafted in the second round by Miami, Tillman played four seasons for the Dolphins under legendary coach Don Shula. He completed 66 receptions for 757 yards and six touchdowns before injuries cut his pro career short.
He has earned spots in the LHHS Athletics Hall of Fame, the Texas Tech Hall of Fame and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.
The Ring of Honor ceremony Sept. 13-14 will take place at Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T Stadium over the weekend of their game against North Texas and will honor Tillman, linebacker Thomas Howard and wide receiver Wes Welker. The men will join former inductees Donny Anderson (2012), E.J. Holub (2012), Dave Parks (2012), Gabe Rivera (2014), Zach Thomas (2016), Michael Crabtree (2021), Elmer Tarbox (2021) and Patrick Mahomes II (2022).
Congratulations, Andre Tillman!
Andre Tillman is the tallest kid on the back row. Fall of 1969.
Andre Tillman was District Player of the Year in 1970.