Joey McGuire arrived in Lubbock as the new head football coach of the Red Raiders with one simple goal: to make Texas Tech the hardest working, toughest, most competitive team in the country. The first-year college head coach knows the end results won’t show up right away during his tenure. 

McGuire, who won three state championships as the head coach of Cedar Hill High School south of Dallas, watched Matt Rhule go 1-11 in his first year at Baylor. He watched Dave Aranda go 2-7 in his first year in Waco. Both of those coaches played for a Big 12 championship within three seasons. Aranda won the Big 12 Conference in 2021. 

“If you’re a Red Raider, you’re going to be proud of how hard we play,” McGuire explained. “And we’re going to play hard because of how much we care about each other. The results will come after the process.” 

McGuire is developing the Red Raiders into his image. Players describe the new coach as energetic and upbeat. Texas Tech went 7-6 in 2021 with a bowl victory over Mississippi State and former head coach Mike Leach. McGuire, despite being the opposite of Leach in nearly every imaginable way, wants to return Texas Tech to those glory years under The Pirate. 

McGuire is the fourth head coach since Leach’s exit from Lubbock. Leach won nine games in his last season at Texas Tech (2009). The Red Raiders haven’t reached those heights since. The Red Raiders won eight games in three of the four seasons after Leach left but haven’t topped seven wins since. The 2021 season was the first winning record for Texas Tech since 2015. 

The previous coach never won over his fan base. Matt Wells was fired mid-season in 2021 after posting a 13-17 overall record and a 7-16 mark in Big 12 play. Under his direction, Texas Tech only managed four wins in 2019 and 2020. The Red Raiders were 5-3 when he was relieved of his duties in late October. McGuire was hired mid-season, which allowed him to watch his new team from afar, get a jumpstart on recruiting, and assemble a coaching staff. 

Change is never easy, especially for college-aged kids. Just because these guys run 4.4 40-yard dashes or weigh 300 pounds or bench press a house doesn’t mean they’re robots. Many of the players on campus were recruited to Lubbock by Wells. McGuire’s first goal was to meet with every player and illustrate that a future at Texas Tech was better than entrance into the transfer portal. He managed to keep most of the 2021 roster on board, and the players are already singing his praises. 

“This staff came in and built relationships with all of us, not just the best players,” defensive lineman Tyree Wilson said. “They made it clear that they wanted us to stay and build something special at Texas Tech. They let us ask questions and build relationships outside of football, and that builds trust.” 

The first spring practice for a newly hired head coach is more about instilling expectations than scheme. McGuire needs his players, and his assistant coaches, to understand what he wants out of a football team. For McGuire, the first step is effort and energy. He doesn’t want Texas Tech to be a scheme team. He wants his Red Raiders to be an effort-based program. 

“We need to improve our consistent effort,” McGuire said. “There are games last year where we showed plenty of effort, and we need to find that consistently on a game-to-game basis.”

Building that consistent effort starts in the offseason. And his players are seeing a shift in the energy levels brought to work by the new coaching staff. 

“I’ll walk into the weight room now at 6:30 in the morning not wanting to be there and do work, but this group won’t allow that,” wide receiver Myles Price said with a laugh. “The staff won’t let you be the downer of the group. By the time the warmup is done, I’m ready. They make you want to go. This a true dream staff from the top to bottom.” 

Winning the Big 12 in McGuire’s first year isn’t a realistic expectation for Texas Tech. Developing a style of play that catapults the Red Raiders into a new-look Big 12 without Texas or Oklahoma is the key. McGuire feels like Texas Tech can compete with the likes of Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, Houston, and Cincinnati. Early returns on the recruiting trail suggests that high school players believe him. 

The honeymoon will eventually end. It always does with a new coach. But the excitement levels around Lubbock are tangible. The future is bright. And the players have a message for the fan base.

“You better jump on board now because it is going to get wicked,” Price said. 

The Ceiling
A rejuvenated Texas Tech program plants a flag as a future Big 12 contender in Year 1 under the charismatic Joey McGuire. 

The Floor 
Texas Tech loses high-profile home games in an ugly fashion, which hurts the Red Raiders on the recruiting trail. 

Game of the Year 
Texas at Texas Tech — September 24 
The Red Raiders play an exciting home schedule in Joey McGuire’s first season that includes visits by Houston, Texas, Baylor, and Oklahoma. The Longhorns always draw the most venom in Lubbock, and if it is a night game, Jones Stadium will be rocking with excitement as the new regime is given an opportunity to announce future intentions. 

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

A big grin forms on the face of wide receiver Myles Price when asked about new Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, and for good reason. Kittley was the architect of a Western Kentucky offense that rewrote record books in the 2021 season. The Hilltoppers averaged 44.21 points per game, passed for 433.71 yards per game, and had two receivers catch more than 125 passes. Three different receivers caught at least 14 touchdowns. 

Kittley is no stranger to Lubbock, serving on Kliff Kingsbury’s staff from 2013 to 2017 starting as a student assistant and leaving as assistant quarterback coach. He inherits a quarterback room amid a three-man battle for the starting spot. Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire feels comfortable with whichever quarterback emerges prior to Week 1 between Tyler Shough, Donovan Smith, and Behren Morton. 

“We’re not in a rush to name a guy because all three are natural leaders,” McGuire said. “We want to do it right. There isn’t a rush to name a guy just to name a guy. We think we’ll have packages for all three of them.”

The quarterback who emerges can rely on a solid one-two punch at linebacker with returners Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson. Brooks averaged 5.9 yards per carry and led the team in rushing with 568 yards despite playing only nine games. Thompson was eased into the season due to a nagging injury, yet he finished with a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. 

Price is the leader of the wide receiver core that must replace Erik Ezukanma and Kaylon Geiger. Price is poised for a breakout season at slot receiver in Kittley’s offense. The Red Raiders must also replace the 21 catches and four touchdowns of tight end Travis Koontz. Mason Tharp and Henry Teeter are big targets at the position. 

McGuire knows that championships are won in the trenches. Texas Tech must improve up front, so the staff added four transfer offensive linemen to the roster in the offseason. Ty Buchanan arrived in the summer from USC. Kittley brought Cole Spencer with him from Western Kentucky. 

“Big guys beat up on little guys,” McGuire said.  

Offensive MVP: Tahj Brooks 
Brooks might not be tall, but he’s a powerful runner in a compact body who led Texas Tech in rushing for the first time in his career in 2021.

Offensive Name to Know: Cam’Ron Valdez
The two-headed monster of Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson should headline the Texas Tech rushing attack with a bruising style. Valdez, a redshirt freshman from Rockdale, brings more big-play potential in his 5-9, 195-pound frame. He set school records at the prep level with 4,278 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns. His ability in space might make him a third-down option and a threat to receive the ball out of the backfield.

Offensive Grades

QUARTERBACKS: B-
Texas Tech isn’t short on quarterback options with Tyler Shough, Donovan Smith, and Behren Morton battling it out for the starting spot in 2022. 

RUNNING BACKS: B+
The running back duo of Tahj Brooks and Sarodorick Thompson provides the Red Raiders with balance. Freshman Cam’Ron Valdez adds big-play ability to the unit. 

RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: C+
Myles Price is poised for a breakout year in Zach Kittley’s pass-happy offense. A new crop of players must fill voids at wide receiver and tight end. 

OFFENSIVE LINE: C
Texas Tech’s staff feel good about the trajectory of the offensive line thanks to a few transfers added from the portal in the offseason.  

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN

New head coach Joey McGuire hired former Oregon and Texas A&M defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter to fix a defense that’s plagued the Red Raiders for most of the century. Texas Tech allowed 30.15 points per game and 44.92 percent conversions on third downs to opponents. The defense lacked bite. The unit only caused five fumbles, 10 interceptions, and 20 sacks in 2021. 

“We’re going to be really good on the edges with a lot of production,” McGuire said of his new defense. “We’re going to be multiple and use simulated pressures to confuse the offense. He can pressure you without sending extra guys or being in zero-coverage.”

The player most likely to benefit from the new scheme is Tyree Wilson. The 6-6, 275-pound outside linebacker was used as a four-technique by the previous staff and still managed to lead the Red Raiders with seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. No other player tallied more than 3.5 sacks or eight tackles for loss. 

“It is exciting to build my game with a guy known for developing edge rushers,” Wilson said. “It’ll feel like high school again when I was able to run around and go get the quarterback.”

DeRuyter must overcome losing the four top tacklers from the 2021 season, including linebacker Colin Schooler. Krishon Merriweather is the team’s leading returning tackler from a year ago. Texas Tech added linebacker transfers Caleb Jacob Rodriguez and Dimitri Moore to build the talent level around Merriweather. True freshman Ty Kana was an early enrollee who performed well during spring practices. 

The secondary is filled with veterans. Rayshad Williams, Adrian Frye, and Malik Dunlap provide experience at cornerback. Marquis “Muddy” Waters is back at safety, and the Red Raiders added Texas transfer Tyler Owens for athleticism on the back end. 

“We’re going in a good direction defensively,” McGuire said. “It’ll be interesting to see if any of the freshmen can provide some help in Year 1.”

Among those freshmen already on campus are defensive linemen Joseph Adedire and Trevon McAlpine, defensive back Landon Hullaby, and Kana at linebacker.  

Defensive MVP: Tyree Wilson 
Wilson quietly posted seven sacks in 2021. The senior from West Rusk High School must be an every-down force for the Red Raiders in 2022.

Defensive Name to Know: Jacob Rodriguez
Rodriguez returns to the Lone Star State after starting his career at Virginia. The sophomore is a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker from Wichita Falls Rider High School, where he was a three-sport star and quarterback. He’ll play linebacker for the Red Raiders with Texas Tech needing a new body to step up next to Krishon Merriweather. Rodriguez and Dimitri Moore were added as transfers.  

Defensive Grades

DEFENSIVE LINE: C+
A multiple-formation defense gives Texas Tech an added dimension in 2022 with a four-man front allowing Tyree Wilson to stand up and rush the passer.  

LINEBACKERS: C+
The loss of Colin Schooler hurts, but the return of Krishon Merriweather was an encouraging sign. New additions Dimitri Moore and Jacob Rodriguez performed well in spring practices.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: B-
The Texas Tech secondary is the most experienced spot on the defense. Super-seniors Marquis Waters and Adrian Frye provide leadership. The unit added Texas transfer Tyler Owens. 

SPECIAL TEAMS: A-
Austin McNamara, the best punter in Texas, returns to lead Texas Tech’s special teams. The group must replace kicker Jonathan Garibay, who went 15 of 16 in 2021.