2019 Texas Tech Red Raiders

[Red Raider]

Since 2006, Texas Tech has started 7, 9, 8, 10, 7, 8, 5, 4, 7, 5, 6, and 8. In 2019 there will likely be 6 white starters.

There would have been 8 again but we got the devastating news a couple weeks ago that Justus Parker lost his last year of eligibility due to a banned supplement he was using to gain weight to play a hybrid linebacker role. Really stupid decision by the coaching staff considering the three top safeties from last year graduated and Parker was the most experienced DB.

Travis Bruffy has shifted to right tackle after starting at left tackle the last couple years.

So far Quentin Yontz is listed as a starter after redshirting last year in order to have a bigger impact as a senior since he was buried on the depth chart last year.

OFFENSE
QB Alan Bowman (SO)
SLOT McLane Mannix (JR)
C Bailey Smith (SR) or Dawson Deaton (SO)
RG Jack Anderson (JR)
RT Travis Bruffy (SR)

DEFENSE
DE Eli Howard (JR)

Players to watch
RB Jax Welch, WR Dalton Rigdon, WR Caden Leggett, WR Sterling Galban, TE Tyler Carr, TE/FB Connor Killian, OL Zach Adams, OL Will Farrar, OL Weston Wright, DL Quentin Yontz, DT Houston Miller, LB Brayden Stringer, DB Jake Kirkpatrick

 

[Shadowlight]

Thanks Red raider.

McLane Mannix is a key wide receiver that if things go well could be an NFL draft pick either in 2020 or 2021. He is a speedy productive slot and the hope is he explodes this season playing in higher tiered conference.

But what is also fascinating about TT this season is the near the surface depth at WR. Dalton Rigdon, Caden Leggett and Sterling Galban ( returning from an ACL tear) all have potential to make some noise. Hopefully Galban is back to full speed since he was a 4.3 type runner in high school. Notably all three are terrific athletes who run with fluidity with some speed.

Time will tell but TT hasn't been as caste friendly as one would expect the past several years so here is hoping that trend dissipates.

 

[Red Raider]

According to one of the top TTU football reporters, LB’s Brayden Stringer and Patrick Curley has been getting reps with the 1’s, they could be bigger factors than I originally expected. I knew Stringer would get time since he’s been around a while but Curley was unexpected for me since he is a redshirt freshman who was rarely recruited.

OC David Yost was asked about the receivers that have been impressing him the most and this was his response:
WR Erik Ezukanma and Caden Leggett and IR Dalton Rigdon. "Those guys did a nice job of putting themselves in position that we're kind of counting on them now," Yost said.

Leggett has the physicality and skills to be a great WR and Rigdon has the speed to be a real threat from the slot.

 

[Red Raider]

Updated this to move it down to 6, looks like Quentin Yontz will be 2nd team after all. He should still get a lot of playing time though.

 

[Red Raider]

8 TTU players were put on scholarship today and 7 of them were white guys, congrats to these guys!
RB Jax Welch
WR Dalton Rigdon
WR Caden Leggett
WR Mark Richardson
TE Tyler Carr
TE/FB Connor Killian
LB Michael Nelson