Texas Tech finished 2022 with a strong 8-5 record. More impressively, it achieved this despite multiple quarterback injuries. Last season included wins over Texas, Oklahoma and Ole Miss, and all but one of its losses came to ranked teams. This year, FanDuel Sportsbook has opened the bidding on Texas Tech’s win total at 7.5, with the under juiced to -144, and Texas Tech sits at +1200 to win the Big 12. These odds trail just Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas State. With all of that said, let’s dive into the Texas Tech roster.
2023 Texas Tech Football Season Preview & Predictions
Texas Tech Football 2023 Season Preview: Coaching Staff
Texas Tech returns its entire coaching staff after their inaugural 2022 season. Joey McGuire leads the way at head coach after working as an assistant with Baylor from 2019 to 2021. Zach Kittley will function as the offensive coordinator after previously holding that role with Western Kentucky. Tim DeRuyter will again run the defense after previously occupying that role with Oregon. This staff will look to build on the success from the 2022 season.
Texas Tech Football 2023 Season Preview: Offense
Quarterback
Texas Tech played three quarterbacks last year due to injury. Passing leader Donovan Smith transferred to Houston after 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns. However, Oregon transfer Tyler Shough returns from injury this year and will hope for better health. He completed 106 of 177 passes (59.9%) for 1,310 yards (7.4 yards per attempt), seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Shough is 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, and ran 72 times for 269 yards (3.7 yards per carry) last year, giving him solid mobility. Through his career, he has been an efficient, dual-threat quarterback, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt and 63.4% completion. He was the 11th-graded passer in the Big 12 last year, per PFF. However, the team also has Behren Morton. As a true freshman last year, Morton completed 96 of 169 passes (56.8%) for 1,117 yards (6.6 yards per attempt), seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Morton is 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and rushed 42 times for 79 yards (1.9 yards per carry). However, he did deal with an injury that limited his mobility. Ultimately, this quarterback room is in an excellent spot ahead of the 2023 season.
Running Back
Texas Tech lost its second-leading rusher SaRodorick Thompson this offseason. He vacates 684 yards and 23 receptions. However, its lead back Tahj Brooks returns. Brooks is 5-foot-10, 230 pounds, and rushed 148 times for 695 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He also caught 26 passes for another 164 yards. Brooks averaged 2.76 yards after contact and forced a missed tackle on 29.1% of his attempts. Fourth-leading rusher Cam’Ron Valdez also returns. Valdez is 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, and rushed 18 times for 166 yards. He failed to see a target, but he put up some hyper-efficient numbers on the ground on a small sample. Bryson Donnell and freshman Anquan Willis are the names to monitor behind the top two.
Wide Receiver
At receiver, the Red Raiders return their top five receivers, but they lose a few depth pieces like Trey Cleveland. Last year’s receiving leader Jerand Bradley highlights this list. Bradley is 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, and caught 51 passes for 744 yards and six touchdowns last year. He played out wide 92.2% of the time and his 1.81 yards per route ranked 18th in the Big 12. Xavier White returns after ranking second in receiving. He is 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, and caught 45 passes for 572 yards and three touchdowns. White played in the slot 93.2% of the time and his 2.02 yards per route ranked tenth in the Big 12. Myles Price is 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, and caught 50 passes for 512 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He played in the slot 79.7% of the time and his 1.43 yards per route ranked 30th. Price did deal with an injury mid-season. He led the team in receiving prior to the injury. Loic Fouonji is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and caught 34 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns. He played out wide 90.6% of the time and his 1.73 yards per route ranked 21st. Finally, Nehemiah Martinez returns after catching 34 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns. He is 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, and played in the slot 92.7% of the time. His 1.67 yards per route ranked 23rd last year. J.J. Sparkman and Brady Boyd both return as well. Sparkman caught 15 passes last year and Boyd caught 13. Both played starting snaps in a few games, giving Texas Tech some elite depth. If that were not enough, it added Austin Peay transfer Drae McCray. He is 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, and caught 76 passes for 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He has 1,806 yards over the last two years with Austin Peay.
Tight End
Texas Tech does not use a full-time tight end, but it actually has some legitimate depth here. Mason Tharp returns after catching 12 passes for 100 yards last year. He played 412 snaps and blocked on 46% of them. It also returns Baylor Cupp and Henry Teeter, who played 381 and 196 snaps. Cupp caught 12 passes for 132 yards and blocked on 55% of his snaps. Teeter only caught six passes last year, but he offers strong experience as an insurance policy to the top two tight ends.
Offensive Line
Among the starting offensive line group, Texas Tech lost only left guard Weston Wright. While this offensive line ranked around league average, the hope is that another year in the system will help everyone. Left tackle Caleb Rogers returns after 1,107 snaps last year. This will be his third season starting. Left guard could be Cole Spencer, who missed all of last year with an injury. Prior to 2022, he had three years of elite starting experience with Western Kentucky. He is the early favorite for this job. The center position could be manned by Dennis Wilburn after 1,107 snaps last year. Wilburn came in as a junior college transfer last year. However, the plan has been to move him to right guard this offseason. In the portal, Texas Tech also added Western Kentucky transfer Rusty Staats after two years of starting experience at center. He should immediately slide into that starting center spot and allow Wilburn to kick to guard. Jacoby Jackson played 717 snaps, most at right guard last year. He did play two games at left guard and should provide depth. The same goes for Landon Peterson who played 538 snaps last year. These all came at right guard, which gives Texas Tech strong line depth. Right tackle Monroe Mills also returns after 856 snaps. This will be the former Oklahoma State Cowboys second year starting. Texas Tech also has incoming 4-star recruit Nick Fattig coming in on the interior. This group should be expected to take a step forward this year.
Texas Tech Football 2023 Season Preview: Defense
Texas Tech ranked 78th on defense in 2022. This included the 45th-ranked run defense, 51st-ranked pass rush and 113th-ranked secondary. Texas Tech did lose a few starters on defense, highlighted by first round edge Tyree Wilson. However, the team added four transfers and four 4-star recruits to compliment the incumbents on the roster.
Defensive Line
The Red Raiders have to replace Wilson, but they do return Joseph Adedire after 306 snaps on the edge last year. He recorded one sack and 3.5 tackles for loss in his rotational role. The other edge could be manned by Myles Cole after Jesiah Pierre moved to linebacker. Cole is 285 pounds and moved across the defensive line last year on his 298 snaps. Pierre will likely factor into the edge rush to some degree after ranking third on the team with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. The Red Raiders also added Oregon transfer Terrell Tilmon and Syracuse edge Steve Linton on the edge. Linton only weighs 219 pounds and may be a candidate to back up Pierre in the linebacker/edge hybrid position.
The interior should be a position of strength for Texas Tech with Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford returning 731 and 646 snaps. Bradford ranked second on the team with 5.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss last year. Hutchings recorded 5.5 tackles for loss himself, but his 50 tackles helped Texas Tech with its run defense. Texas Tech also received Louisiana-Monroe transfer Quincy Ledet on the interior after two years starting.
Linebacker
Linebacker loses a ton of production with Kosi Eldridge and Krishon Merriweather departing. Pierre will play a little more linebacker than edge this year. He recorded 40 tackles in addition to his work as a pass rusher. The other standup linebacker looks like Tyrique Matthews. He only played 147 snaps last year, but he has been working with the first team this spring. Jacob Rodriguez could also play a larger role after 153 snaps himself last year. Ultimately, this position group brings the most questions this year.
Defensive Back
Texas Tech returns both of its starting corners in Rayshad Williams and Malik Dunlap. Williams played 872 snaps and Dunlap checked in with 777. This pair proved excellent coverage with two interceptions and 19 passes defended between them. Williams only allowed a 46.3% catch rate into his coverage, which should be leaned upon again this year. The final corner position is actually a hybrid. Known as Star, this player will play, safety, slot corner and even in the box. San Diego State C.J. Baskerville has taken over this position after a pair of strong showings the last two years.
At safety, Texas Tech lost Marquis Waters and Reggie Pearson Jr.. One of those positions has been filled with Baskerville, but Texas Tech will need to rely on returning starter Dadrion Taylor-Demerson even more this year. He played 902 snaps last year with five pass breakups and three interceptions. His 74 tackles also ranked third on the team. His counterpart should be Tyler Owens, who played 239 snaps last year. Owens broke up two passes and recorded an interception himself. If Owens cannot make the jump, Texas Tech recruited a pair of 4-star freshman at defensive back in Jordan Sanford and Brenden Jordan.
2023 Texas Tech Football Schedule & Predictions
Texas Tech Football 2023 Schedule
Texas Tech plays a fairly difficult schedule in 2023, highlight by a non-conference game against Oregon. The Red Raiders do face a pair of cupcakes in Wyoming and Tarleton State alongside the Oregon matchup. The only potential issue could be the homefield advantage Wyoming always has. In conference, they dodge Oklahoma, but face Texas, TCU, Kansas State and Baylor. They also have road trip to Kansas, BYU and West Virginia, giving them tougher travel schedule. Ultimately, this schedule comes in a little more difficult than most.
Texas Tech Football Futures Bet & Prediction
Texas Tech’s win total comes in pretty efficient. It will be clear underdogs to Oregon and Texas. Many of its other games feature tight point spreads. With that said, this roster could take a step forward with its returning production. With teams like TCU replacing a lot more, Texas Tech should be able to sneak past a few of these teams. For that reason, taking Texas Tech over 7.5 wins at plus money makes sense.
Best Texas Tech Football Futures Bet: Over 7.5 Wins +118 at FanDuel
You can read the rest of Matt Gajewski’s 2023 college football season previews and predictions below!
- Alabama Season Preview & Predictions
- Arkansas Season Preview & Predictions
- Auburn Season Preview & Predictions
- Florida Season Preview & Predictions
- Georgia Season Preview & Predictions
- Iowa Season Preview & Predictions
- Iowa State Season Preview & Predictions
- Kansas State Season Preview & Predictions
- Kentucky Season Preview & Predictions
- LSU Season Preview & Predictions
- Michigan Season Preview & Predictions
- Mississippi State Season Preview & Predictions
- Missouri Season Preview & Predictions
- Oklahoma Season Preview & Predictions
- Oklahoma State Season Preview & Predictions
- Ole Miss Season Preview & Predictions
- South Carolina Season Preview & Predictions
- TCU Season Preview & Predictions
- Tennessee Season Preview & Predictions
- Texas Season Preview & Predictions
- Texas A&M Season Preview & Predictions
- Vanderbilt Season Preview & Predictions
- West Virginia Season Preview & Predictions
