Things can only get better.. right? Coming into the 2017 season, the Texas Tech defense had nowhere to look but up. Ranking near the bottom of the nation in practically every single defensive category for years past, the Red Raiders defense hoped to somehow catch up to the prestige of their well-known offense. Well, the defense delivered it’s part of the deal. 2017 was a year of change in Lubbock, but not all for the better. While the defense held up it’s end of the bargain, Tech’s offense slowed down, and it resulted in the least productive year since Kliff Kingsbury took the reigns.
Prestige Ranking (If NCAA Football 19 existed): 3*
Although Tech has floated around the bottom to middle of the Big 12 rankings the past few seasons, this does not take into account their history, and future potential. Tech is a Power 5 school, in arguably the greatest recruiting state in the nation, with continuous facility upgrades and decent recruiting. The Red Raiders are also traditionally known for making one or two HUGE upsets each year, making top teams worry a little extra when playing them, especially at home.
Last Years Record: 6-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Projected Returning Starters:
Offense: 6
Tech returns all 5 starters on the offensive line, including former 4-star recruit, and ESPN and USA Today Freshman All-American, Jack Anderson. Tre King will look to take over the running back position after emerging onto the scene last year alongside Justin Stockton. Da’Leon Ward will also be competing for the starting job in the backfield though, after missing all of last season. Ward showed promise as a true freshman in 2016, leading the Red Raiders in the rushing category. TJ Vasher will be the only returning starting receiver, but there should be no worries for fans of the program who know that Tech continuously churns out quality receivers, year after year. Guys like Ja’Deion High and Antoine Wesley will step up to the plate and fill these receiver spots, among others.
The big question for Kingsbury leading into 2018 is ,”who will be taking the snaps?” While Kliff has always had his guy, and his guy always exceeds expectations, this is one of the least tested groups of Kingsbury’s coaching career. It will be a 3-way battle for the job – including McLane Carter, Jett Duffey and Alan Bowman. The way I see it playing out, Jett will be taking the opening snaps of the season, while we will see Carter from time to time in some sort of a running QB/goal line package, almost with a Kansas State schematic approach. Don’t be surprised to see Kingsbury use the new redshirt rule to his advantage, though, allowing athletes to play in up to 4 games before burning a redshirt, to test the waters with incoming true freshman Alan Bowman. Bowman is the least experienced, but seems to be the most Kingsbury offense friendly quarterback on the roster.
Defense: 11
This is hands down the best, most proven defense Kingsbury has ever had, and will have for a long time, which is what makes this year so vital to his career at Tech. With Last Chance U season 2 star linebacker Dakota Allen leading the bunch, look for this Tech defense to turn even more heads than last year, and in reality, possibly save Kingsbury’s job and future at his alma mater. While the offense may be down again, this defense will be expected to lead the team and play like nothing any Tech fan has seen its defense play in decades. Jah’Shawn Johnson will lead the secondary, alongside former walk-on Justus Parker, and three JUCO products: Vaughnte Dorsey and corners Octavious Morgan and Jaylon Lane. Des Smith and Douglas Coleman will round out the secondary group, with all seven guys I mentioned having valuable, proven experience and playing time for the Red Raiders. Broderick Washington, Eli Howard, Rice transfer Preston Gordon, and others will hold down the defensive line, and try to again improve on stopping the run and putting pressure on opposing Quarterbacks.
Special Teams: 2
Clayton Hatfield will continue do the place kicking and kickoffs for the Red Raiders this fall, and Dominic Panazzolo will be back punting the ball. Kicking was a problem early on for Tech, but things began to come together as Hatfield settled in during the 2017 season, after making 4/5 FGs to end the season, and was a perfect 22-for-22 on PATs. The only missing piece from last year will be Cam Batson returning punts and kicks. The Red Raiders should have no problems finding their guy though from their consistently solid receiving corp.
Key Losses:
WR Keke Coutee, WR Dylan Cantrell, QB Nic Shimonek
All leaders for the Tech offense in 2017, Coutee and Cantrell were both selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, to the Texans (4th Round) and Chargers (6th Round), respectively. Quarterback Nic Schimonek signed a UDFA deal, joining former teammate Dylan Cantrell on the LA Chargers, while also landing in the AFC West along with other former teammate, Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), and another former Kingsbury protegee, Case Keenum (Broncos).
5 Year Recruiting Ranking: 45
Alcohol Prediction: Four Loco
Tech fans love to have the best time possible, all the time, while usually hoping to forget the outcome of what happened in the past.