The February national signing day figures to be an afterthought for the Texas Tech football program. In December, as they finished up an 8-5 season, the Red Raiders signed 18 high-school players and 17 veterans in a highly regarded transfer-portal class.
The Red Raiders have done so much roster building, in fact, they face a good bit of roster trimming between now and July 1, when it’s anticipated a 105-player cap will go into effect for next season. That’s provided a federal judge gives final approval in April to the House v. NCAA settlement proposal.
Tech’s roster makeover hasn’t been limited to players. Joey McGuire hired offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich from Texas State to replace Zach Kittley, who became head coach at Florida Atlantic, and hired defensive coordinator Shiel Wood from Houston to replace Tim DeRuyter, who was let go.
Counting players who started at least six games in 2024, the Red Raiders return five on offense, eight on defense and punter Jack Burgess. Tech begins spring practice and March 10 and plays its spring game April 19.
Here’s a look at the state of the roster going into the traditional signing period.
More: National signing day: Which Texas Tech freshmen are already on campus?
Texas Tech football offense
Two questions that will stretch into August: How well does QB Behren Morton recover from shoulder surgery in December, and how effectively do the Red Raiders replace two-time 1,500-yard rusher Tahj Brooks? Tech fans will keep their fingers crossed for Morton, though it’s important to note he said his shoulder wasn’t an issue last season, and the surgery was elective. Tech added Wake Forest transfer Mitch Griffis as insurance.
Southern Cal transfer Quinten Joyner will duel holdover J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey in an all-sophomores battle for Brooks’s job in the spring, and Cam’Ron…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-tech-football-roster-analysis-100439660.html
Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Publish date : 2025-02-02 10:04:00
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