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It’s unfortunate that Texas Tech football spring practices are mostly closed to the general public and the media. Oh, the media gets to see the first 30 minutes on some days, but most of the meaningful stuff happens afterward.
The Red Raiders, coming off a bowl victory for the third consecutive season, have all sorts of personnel to sort through and position battles to resolve between now and the Aug. 31 season opener against Abilene Christian. Part of the process begins Tuesday with the first of their 15 spring sessions.
There are numerous questions to answer, but here are five:
Who benefits most by the staff easing up on Tahj Brooks in March and April?
The Doak Walker Award semifinalist ran for 1,538 yards last season on 290 attempts, the second-most carries by any player at any level of college football last season. Because of that, Tech coach Joey McGuire says Brooks won’t be asked to do much during scrimmages and live contact periods in practice.
That means game-on in the competition to be the No. 2 running back with fourth-year man Cam’Ron Valdez trying to hold off Bryson Donnell, Anquan Willis and JMaury Davis. Valdez tried the NCAA transfer portal after his 52-carry, 286-yard season, but withdrew his name.
Who’s going to replace defensive tackles Tony Bradford and Jaylon Hutchings?
Hutchings started 57 games in his career, Bradford 38. Tech coaches often said they were going to use their depth because Hutchings and Bradford couldn’t be expected to play so much, but come game time, No. 97 and No. 95 were usually on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Bradford led Big 12 interior defenders in snaps played last season, and Hutchings was seventh in that category.
Now, the Red Raiders have no choice but to use other defensive tackles. That list starts with Quincy Ledet, Dooda Banks and Trevon McAlpine, all in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-tech-football-5-questions-091813299.html
Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Publish date : 2024-03-16 09:18:13
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