Texas Tech Red Raiders 2024 Preview and Predictions

(RB Tahj Brooks – USA Today Sports)

Key Players Returning:

QB Behren Morton, RB Tahj Brooks, WR Coy Eakin, OG Caleb Rogers, OT Ty Buchanan, DE E’Maurion Banks, DE Charles Esters III, LB Joesph Adedire, LB Ben Roberts, LB Jacob Rodriguez, CB Bralyn Lux, SS CJ Baskerville, KR Drae McCray, and PK Gino Garcia.

Key Players Departing:

WR Jerand Bradley (Boston College transfer), WR/PR Myles Price (Indiana transfer), WR Xavier White, OC Dennis Wilburn, OG Cole Spencer, OG Rusty Staats, DE Tony Bradford Jr., DE Myles Cole, NT Jaylon Hutchings, LB Steve Linton (Baylor transfer), LB Jesiah Pierre (UCF transfer), CB Malik Dunlap, CB Rayshad Williams, NB Tyler Owens, FS Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Cardinals R4), and PT Austin McNamara.

(WR Micah Hudson – 247Sports)

Top 10 Recruits:

Blue Chip Recruits: 
WR Micah Hudson (Tempe, Arizona).

4 Star Recruits: 
OT Ellis Davis (Prosper, Texas), TE Jalin Conyers (Arizona State transfer), QB Will Hammond (Hutto, Texas), EDGE Cheta Ofili (Sachse, Texas), WR Josh Kelly (Washington State transfer), and DS Peyton Morgan (Pflugerville, Texas).

3 Star Recruits:  TE Jason Llewellyn (Oklahoma transfer), TE Johncarlos Miller II (Elon transfer), and DS Devynn Cromwell (Toronto, Canada).

2023 Results:

G01  @ Wyoming  L (2OT)  33-35
G02  #13 OREGON  L  30-38
G03  TARLETON  W  41-3
G04  @ West Virginia  L  13-20
G05  HOUSTON  W  49-28
G06  @ Baylor  W  39-14
G07  KANSAS STATE  L  21-38
G08  @ BYU  L  14-27
G09  TCU  W  35-28
G10  @ #16 Kansas  W  16-13
G11  UCF  W  24-23
G12  @ #7 Texas  L  7-57
BOWL  vs. California  W  34-14

Team Info:

2023 Overall:  7-6 (7th in Big XII)

Home:  4-2
Away:  2-4
Neutral:  1-0
B12:  5-4
Non-B12:  2-2

Head Coach:  Joey McGuire

Texas Tech:  15-11
Career:  15-11
Bowls:  2-0

(QB Behren Morton – Getty Images)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Behren Morton (182-293, 1757 yards, 62.1%, 6.0 avg., 15 TD, 8 INT)
Rushing: 
Tahj Brooks (290 car., 1538 yards, 5.3 avg., 10 TD)
Receiving: 
Coy Eakin (36 rec., 416 yards, 11.6 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Tahj Brooks (10)
Sacks: 
Charles Esters III (3)
Tackles: 
Ben Roberts (107)
Tackles For Loss: 
Ben Roberts (6.5)
Interceptions: 
CJ Baskerville (2)
Pass Deflections: 
Bralyn Lux (9)
Forced Fumbles: 
Ben Roberts/Jacob Rodriguez (2)
Kick Returns: 
Drae McCray (26 ret., 717 yards, 27.6 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: 
None
Kicking:  Gino Garcia (16-22 fg/fta., 73%, 40-40 xp/xpa., 88 pts.)
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  2  Behren Morton  (RS JR)
RB:  28  Tahj Brooks  (GR)
WR:  8  Coy Eakin  (RS SO)
WR:  5  Caleb Douglas  (JR/TR)
WR:  18  Josh Kelly  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  80  Mason Tharp  (SR)
LT:  79  Sterling Porcher  (SR/TR)
LG:  71  Vinny Sciury  (SR/TR)
OC:  72  Sheridan Wilson  (RS SO)
RG:  76  Caleb Rogers  (SR)
RT:  75  Ty Buchanan  (RS JR/TR)
KR:  10  Drae McCrary  (SR/TR)
PK:  99  Gino Garcia  (RS SR/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  17  Isaac Smith  (RS JR)
NT:  5  Quincy Ledet Jr.  (SR/TR)
DE:  8  E’Maurion Banks  (RS JR)
LB:  14  Joseph Adedire  (JR)
LB:  13  Ben Roberts  (RS SO)
LB:  10  Jacob Rodriguez  (RS JR/TR)
NB:  1  AJ McCarty  (RS JR)
CB:  0  Bralyn Lux  (RS SR/TR)
CB:  4  Maurion Horn  (RS SO)
FS:  25  Chapman Lewis  (SO)
SS:  9  CJ Baskerville  (SR/TR)
PR:  8  Coy Eakin  (RS SO)
PT:  41  Jack Burgess  (JR/TR)

(LB Ben Roberts – USA Today Sports)

Team Grades

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  B
Punters:  A

Schedule:

08/31
  ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS  |  Texas Tech leads the series 6-3.  The Red Raiders won (20-0) the last meeting between schools in 1949.

09/07  @ Washington State Cougars  |  Texas Tech leads the series 2-0.  The Red Raiders won (20-10) the last meeting between schools in 1964.

09/14  NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN  |  The series is tied 4-4.  The Red Raiders won (42-14) the last meeting between schools in 2001.

09/21  ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS  |  The series is tied 2-2.  The Red Raiders won (52-45) the last meeting between schools in 2017.

09/28  CINCINNATI BEARCATS  |  First meeting between schools.

10/05  @ Arizona Wildcats  |  Texas Tech leads the series 26-5-2.  The Red Raiders lost (14-28) the last meeting between schools in 2019.

10/19  BAYLOR BEARS  |  Texas Tech trails the series 40-41-1.  The Red Raiders are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (17-45) was in 2022.

10/26  @ TCU Horned Frogs  |  Texas Tech leads the series 33-30-3.  The Red Raiders are 7-3 since 2014, and their series loss (24-34) was in 2022.

11/02  @ Iowa State Cyclones  |  Texas Tech leads the series 13-8.  The Red Raiders are 4-5 since 2014, and they won (14-10) and they won (14-10) was in 2022.

11/09  COLORADO BUFFALOES  |  The series is tied 5-5.  The Red Raiders won (27-24) the last meeting between schools in 2010.

11/23  @ Oklahoma State Cowboys  |  Texas Tech trails the series 23-24-3.  The Red Raiders lost (31-41) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

11/30  WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS  |  Texas Tech trails the series 6-7.  The Red Raiders are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series win (48-10) was in 2022.

Predictions:

Home:  7-0
Away:  2-3
Neutral:  0-0
B12:  6-3
Non-B12:  3-0

Overall:  9-3 (6th in Big XII)