Who are Texas Tech football’s most improved players? Zach Kittley, Tim DeRuyter weigh in

The Texas Tech football spring game unfolds Saturday afternoon in Midland, and in conjunction with it, the Red Raiders will present their in-house team awards. Joey McGuire reinstated a program tradition that went dormant after the Mike Leach years.

One of the honors is the JT King Award for most improved player, which was presented annually from 1978 through 2008.

Center Sheridan Wilson, tackle Ty Buchanan, linebacker John Curry, cornerbacks Jalon Peoples and Maurion Horn and defensive tackle Dooda Banks might be among the favorites based on remarks Monday by offensive coordinator Zach Kittley and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter.

DeRuyter described Curry, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound redshirt freshman from Coronado, as firmly in the two-deep.

“John Curry, I thought, really made a step up,” DeRuyter said when asked about his most improved players. “I think Jalon Peoples has really upped his game. Mo Horn at corner I think is playing as well as anybody on our defense right now.”

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Peoples and Horn, sophomores from Cedar Hill and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, respectively, are among the holdovers vying to replace multi-year starters Malik Dunlap and Rayshad Williams. Also in that mix is Bralyn Lux, who started eight games last season.

DeRuyter also brought up Banks and fellow defensive tackle Quincy Ledet, who are getting first crack at replacing longtime starters Tony Bradford and Jaylon Hutchings.

“I like where Dooda has come in the three years we’ve had him,” DeRuyter said. “Every year, he’s made progress. Sometimes a guy thinks, ‘OK, the older guys are gone. I’m going to inherit it.’ He comes out, and he works. I think Quincy’s done a nice job doing that as well.”

Tech…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-tech-footballs-most-improved-210702314.html

Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Publish date : 2024-04-15 21:07:02

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