Never too early for college football!

Well, all annual Spring games are behind us and into the summer we go. Over the next few weeks we will be sending out some updates on the Spring games/practices of our favorite teams as well as predictions about the following year after taking into account what we saw in the spring.
Texas Tech Red Raiders

Preseason Ranking: 20-25

The 120 play Red/Black game has come and gone and we can take away some positives and negatives. The offense was able to move the ball, but they weren't very good finishing drives with points. I think that is a given when you are breaking in a new QB, a couple Big Nasties (o-linemen) and needing new WR to step up after you lose your go to guy to the NFL Draft. The defense broke in some new faces that made some plays, but still gave up a good bit of yardage against an offense that hadn't played together long and had opportunities to score. I never look too much into Spring games. Generally the defense stands out and the offenses look shaky at best. In Tech's case, I wish that one of these Springs the defense would completely dominate just to show us some promise going into the season b/c I know the offense will come around and almost always put 35+ on the board.

Taylor Potts will take the snaps for the Red Raiders this season and he has some big shoes to fill. I think the Red Raider fans will be very impressed with his play. In my opinion he mixes a bit of all the great characteristics of the QB's that have gone under center, or should I say, sat in the gun under Mike Leach in his time at Texas Tech. He has the size that Sonny Cumbie had, the arm that BJ Symmons displayed, the accuracy on the short throws that Kingsbury mastered, the "it" factor that Cody Hodges used to get us to the Cotton Bowl along with the all around talent that Graham Harrell displayed to go along with the high accolades coming out of high school. He will be the first QB from Tech under Leach that the NFL won't use the "system" QB tag on. I think we are in good hands for the next 2 years. He looked sharp in the Spring game passing for over 200 yards on 20 of 27 with a TD.

Tech fans are going to once again be very pleased with their RB's. Baron Batch is back after making a great impression last year and will be splitting carries with Harrison Jeffers, who makes his highly anticipated debut after redshirting last season. The key with being a RB in the spread offense is picking up blocks and making catches out of the backfield. Both of these guys can do that and I wouldn't be surprised to see more of a true running game with the QB under center every now and than. They both played very well in the spring game and accounted for the most yards between the Red Raider offensive players.

The loss of Michael Crabtree will hurt the Red Raiders in the redzone as he was almost a sure thing inside the 10 to seperate and get open, but the rest of the guys return that were more often than not the guys getting the ball down the field to start with. Edward Britton, Detron Lewis and Tremaine Swindell should all still put up great numbers and the only question will be whether or not one of them wants to be the go to guy close to the goalline. I personally feel that Britton will fill the role of the deep ball WR, Lewis will be a guy who can move the chains and Swindell will be the guy that Potts really looks for when in the redzone. None are the complete package that Crabtree was, but together they really can do all that you would ask of an above average WR corp. Look for Jacoby Franks to get on the field as the 4th WR for the Raiders. Detron Lewis and Tremaine Swindell both got in the endzone during the Spring game.


The offensive line is never of a concern to me at Tech. With the wide splits, it really forces teams to go too wide to get to the QB in the short amount of time our QB's hold onto the football. Over the years we have started to get more highly recruited lineman, so I can only assume, they can step in and take care of business. If they don't mesh as a group and cant keep our QB off his butt, we could be in for a long season. I wouldn't worry about that though. Mankind, Brandon Carter returns and will be a Pre-Season All-American.


Last season Tech's defense for the first time in years was able to get big stops and either get off the field or force turnovers at key times (the exceptions being OU and Ole Miss). A large part of that was b/c of the success of the defensive line that made the rest of the team look better than they might have actually been.


Tech’s D will all hinge on the DL and the changes that have taken place with the loss of Brandon Williams to the draft and possible loss of Dixon and Sesay to off the field issues. Rajon Henley has moved to DE and will likely see time at both DT and DE. Colby Whitlock and Richard Jones will see plenty of time at DT. DE is unsettled due to the previously mentioned issues. I would expect to see a rotation of Henley, Brandon Sharpe, and Daniel Howard. If Sesay and Dixon settle their off the field issues, expect them to see heavy playing time at DE, although it doesn’t sound like there is much of a possibility they both return to the team in the fall.


All of the LBs return. Duncan is the anchor of the LB core and is a very solid Big XII LB. Marlon Williams and Bront Bird are suspect at best but with a year under their belt and another offseason of strength and conditioning they should show some improvement. They were pushed in the spring by Tyrone Sonier and Sam Fehoko, who could possibly be a starter at MLB, which would push Duncan to SLB. Although Duncan is an ideal MLB, if the idea is to get the best 11 defensive players on the field, Fehoko and Duncan will be on the field at the same time at MLB and SLB respectively.


The secondary returns Jamar Wall at CB who can play like an All Big XII player at times. The other CB is not yet settled and will most likely be a battle between LaRon Moore and Taylor Charbonnet. Tech lost both safeties to graduation and must fill the positions with players who have almost no experience. Cody Davis had a great spring and is a lock to be a starter come the fall. Franklin Mitchem is penciled in at the spot opposite Davis at this point. Due to the lack of depth Andre McCorkle, a walk-on, was moved from RB to S. He has the size and speed to compete for playing time if he can learn the position. Tech signed a handful of blue-chip safeties this winter that may get on the field being that there isn't anything in concrete.


In my opinion Tech fans can look forward to an 8-4 season at best. They should make it through their pre-conference games unscathed, but the lack of experience in the defensive secondary will prove costly come conference time in the pass happy Big 12 South. OU, UT and OSU will most likely cruise past the Red Raiders in their matchups, but Tech should be able to score enough to compete in all other games. If you like San Antonio, you will probably be able to make a road trip in late December to see the Red Raiders play a Big 10 school in the Alamo Bowl.

Thanks to Wes Shaw for his input.