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.
Tahj Brooks is an incredibly strong runner with so many yards after contact and an uncanny ability to create something out of nothing.
It was an absolute pleasure to see him carry the stone all year long. #TexasTech. pic.twitter.com/5EjK1HiUUi
— Justin Apodaca (@JustinApod) 19 November 2023
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.
Jalin Conyers, who transferred from ASU to TTU this winter, displays outstanding balance, fluidity and physicality that are difficult to match in the YAC phase.
Was impressed with the foot speed through the route set-up and the extreme positional flexibility, aligning anywhere from QB to X-Receiver. pic.twitter.com/Er6Tz2XTne
— Justin Apodaca (@JustinApod) July 14, 2024
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.
Bralyn Lux was an impact transfer for @TexasTechFB Last season he led the team in PBUs. @IamBlux12 is a great blend of fluidity and stickiness, triggers underneath to help in the run game while being able to maintain speed down the field while staying consistent with instincts, recognition and +ball skills pic.twitter.com/MXW5g6CHlP
— Shane Coughlin (@Shane__Coughlin) July 26, 2024
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.
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