Texas Tech is ready for year three under head coach Joey McGuire, where the Red Raiders hope to have a more dynamic offense compared to the last two seasons under McGuire and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Tech’s defense will also be buoyed this season by some strong returning players who will help mentor the developing youngsters who will play key roles this season.

Here are ten key players for the Red Raiders in 2024:

1. Tahj Brooks

Statistics 2023: 290 runs, 1,541 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns

Brooks enters the 2024 season for his final stint with the Red Raiders with a chance to rewrite the history books, just 1,167 yards behind Texas Tech’s Byron Hanspard all-time rushing record. A year after being the heart and soul of the Tech offense, Brooks hopes to ride off into the sunset with another stellar season to cap off his five-year career as a Red Raider.

2. Behren Morton

Statistics 2023: 182/293, 1,754 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, eight interceptions

Morton enters the season as a starting quarterback for the first time in his career after playing a lot of snaps for the Red Raiders in both 2022 and 2023. After battling a shoulder injury throughout 2023, Morton will look to stay healthy and lead the Red Raiders to another successful season under McGuire.

3. Josh Kelly

Statistics 2023 (Washington State): 61 receptions, 923 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns

Kelly is the coveted receiver coming out of Texas Tech’s transfer portal after putting up strong numbers at Washington State in 2023. Kelly is an agile, experienced receiver who can play anywhere in the Red Raiders offense and brings a different type of explosiveness to the Red Raiders offense compared to last season.

4. Micah Hudson

Statistics 2023: n/a

Hudson is the first five-star player to ever sign with Texas Tech. The freshman from Temple-Lake Belton will make an immediate impact for the Red Raiders despite his young age and rehabilitation from a knee injury that kept him out of spring training camp. Hudson is an extremely advanced player with the ability to play both inside and outside, but will primarily make waves in the slot early in his Tech career.

5. Jalin Conyers

Statistics 2023 (State of Arizona): 30 receptions, 362 receiving yards

A Gruver native who returned to West Texas for his final season of college football after stints at Oklahoma and Arizona State, Conyers is a dynamic tight end who has a chance to reunite with a childhood friend in Morton after a down season with the Sun Devils.

6. Vinny Sciury

Statistics 2023 (Toledo): Allowed two sacks, allowed nine pressure situations in 851 snaps.

Sciury is a veteran left guard who will solidify Tech’s newly formed offensive line. He comes to Lubbock to take over the starting position. Sciury fits well into the Red Raiders’ running scheme and excels at drawing space and blocking in gap-run schemes, the scheme Tech has used under McGuire.

7. CJ Baskerville

Statistics 2023: 77 tackles, five pass defenses, two interceptions

Baskerville is the only player returning to the Red Raider’s secondary and is expected to fill the leadership void left by Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who is now a safety with the Arizona Cardinals, in the 2024 season. Baskerville will have a chance to settle into his natural position as a boundary safety after switching positions many times in his first season as a Red Raider in 2023.

8. Bralyn Lux

Statistics 2023: 38 tackles, eight pass defenses, one interception

Lux is the best cornerback last season and has the second most snaps at the position, only Malik Dunlap is better. Lux is a physical corner who has shown some really strong traits in the 2023 season, and he looks to lead a young group at the position in his final season of college football.

9. Jacob Rodriguez

Statistics 2023: 30 tackles, two pass deflections, one interception, two forced fumbles

Rodriguez was expected to lead Tech’s linebacker corps in 2023, but it was all over after a broken leg in the opening loss to Wyoming. Rodriguez returned in late 2023 and helped Tech to a bowl berth. He will have a chance to reclaim his leadership role in the room in 2024.

10. Ben Roberts

Statistics 2023: 105 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles

Roberts played a key role in mitigating the loss of Rodriguez by being the starter against Oregon in 2023, resulting in a freshman All-American season. During the season, Roberts recorded over 100 tackles, becoming the only freshman linebacker in the country to surpass that total. He will look to form a dynamic duo with Rodriguez in 2024.

AP college football preseason poll: Texas makes the top 5; see how Oklahoma and the others fare

As the Texas Longhorns begin their first season in the SEC, expectations are high.

5 Bold Predictions for Texas Tech in 2024: Big Impact from Freshman Phenom Micah Hudson

Texas Tech enters its third year under head coach Joey McGuire with ever-increasing expectations.

For more coverage of Texas Tech in the Dallas Morning News, click here.

For more college sports coverage from the Dallas Morning News, click here.