In what was almost certainly his final game at Texas Tech, sophomore receiver Michael Crabtree didn't resemble the nation's best college receiver and likely top-10 NFL draft pick.

An injured Crabtree struggled to stay on the field at times Friday in the Red Raiders' loss to Mississippi in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.

Crabtree suffered a high right ankle sprain in Tech's regular-season finale against Baylor on Nov. 29. Earlier this week, he said his ankle was about 90 percent healthy.

But that didn't seem to be the case against Ole Miss. Crabtree, who wasn't made available for comment after the game, limped off the field several times. Once, he grabbed his right ankle as he reached the sideline.

"Crabtree was a little bumped up today. I think that hurt him," Tech quarterback Graham Harrell said. "He got his eye poked and couldn't really see out of one eye. His eye looked bad. His ankle is a little bummed. It was just a tough day."

Crabtree's usual acceleration was missing. Harrell overthrew him several times on deep routes. Despite facing man coverage most of the game, Crabtree, a Carter grad, finished with four catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in a homecoming game. The four catches tied a career low.

"He made plays for us a few times and kind of gave us some energy," Harrell said. "I don't think they did anything particular to take him away."

Crabtree's biggest miscue came on Tech's opening drive of the third quarter. With Tech at the Ole Miss 45-yard line, Harrell tried to hit Crabtree on a stop route along the right side. When Crabtree planted his feet, he slipped and fell. That allowed Rebels cornerback Marshay Green to intercept the pass and race 65 yards for a touchdown that gave Ole Miss a 31-21 lead.

"It was a big-time challenge," Green said of covering Crabtree, a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver. "All week we've been hearing things about Crabtree."

And the Crabtree talk will undoubtedly continue until he announces if he'll turn pro or return to Texas Tech. Crabtree has until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL draft.

He set NCAA freshman records and led the nation in receptions, yards and touchdowns catches a year ago. In 26 games at Tech, he had 231 receptions for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns.

"He had a good year. He was one of the ultimate marked players in the country," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "Despite that, against one great defense after the next, he responded incredibly well. I guess I need some more guys who are having bad years. I'll tell you this, if we had a pile of people that had as bad a year as he did, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about what happened against Ole Miss."