Texas Tech underachieved in Year 2 of the Joey McGuire era. Don’t believe me? 

“Last year was really hard. Part of me died a little bit last year because we had such high expectations,” he said in my recent stop in Lubbock for the summer magazine. “You never want to make excuses, but there’s always reasons things happen. You could have never convinced me that we’d play three quarterbacks in Year 1 and Year 2. The number of injuries we went through last year was more than I’d seen in any of my 29 years coaching football.” 

But the usually upbeat and optimistic head man of the Red Raiders feels like those growing pains will pay dividends in 2024. The young players forced into action on both sides of the ball in 2023 should help jumpstart the new campaign. And while there might not be a Tyree Wilson on the roster, the staff feels like the overall talent is better, which helps the depth. 

Add in a top-notch collective, another excellent recruiting crop, and a $240 million dollar facility renovation and McGuire’s bullish about the future in West Texas. 

“The excitement, support, and resources pumping into this program eliminate excuses, and I like that,” he said. “We’ve put ourselves in a position to compete from a facilities and collective standpoint to make a real run as a football program. Now, it is my job to make sure we’re putting that product on the field.” 

 OFFENSE 

• For the first time since McGuire and OC Zach Kittley arrived in Lubbock, there is not a QB battle. The job is Behren Morton’s. With his injury history, the staff shut him down after the first scrimmage to protect his arm for the summer/fall and to get a better idea of the backup. Jake Strong enters his redshirt freshman season with six quarters of college play under his belt. Transfer Cam Brown was called a freak because of his athleticism. The hype around early-enrollee Will Hammond will only grow. The staff loves him and says he’s added 15 pounds since arriving on campus. He might have more upside than any QB on the roster. 
• Kittley arrived at Texas Tech as a pass-first coordinator. He said that by Week 5 last year it was clear that running back Tahj Brooks was the identity of the football team. Remember the name Cam Dickey. The true freshman from Austin Crockett might’ve been the surprise of spring. 
• McGuire and Kittley both lit up when talking about a renovated WR room. It was a possession-based group in 2023. They believe the additions of Josh Kelly, who is a star, and Caleb Douglas will help take the top off the defense. Micah Hudson is out in the spring. “We have a deeper group on the outside,” Kittley said. Coy Eakin, Drae McCray, and Jordan Brown all return. 
• Another room that’s improved this offseason is tight end. A healthy Mason Tharp is a true weapon. The additions of Jaylin Conyers and Johncarlos Miller II provide new weapons. Miller played WR at Elon and is adjusting to the TE position, but his athleticism and upside are off the charts. 
• The offensive line is the true question on that side of the ball. The goal is to move Caleb Rogers inside. So far, the staff likes what it’s seen from Sterling Porcher at left tackle and Ty Buchanan at right tackle. That means the three inside jobs are up for grabs with four candidates. Rogers, Sheridan Wilson, Vinny Sciury, and Davion Carter are battling it out. Sciury looks like the starter at left guard. Wilson and Rogers are working at center. Carter, a Memphis transfer, is a right guard candidate who can also play center. My guess? Porcher (LT), Sciury (LG), Rogers (OC), Carter (RG), Buchanan (RT) with Wilson as the primary backup at all three interior positions and Rogers able to slide back to tackle if Porcher or Buchanan get hurt. 

DEFENSE 

Depth is the buzz word for Texas Tech. DC Tim DeRuyter said he doesn’t have a star like Tyree Wilson, but his two-deep is much better than it was in Year 1 or Year 2. “We hunt as a pack better than we did first two years. Our strength is that it’ll be by committee. We’re more physical and we play faster because we know what we’re doing due to the continuity on the staff, roster.” 

• Returners E’Maurion Banks and Quincy Ledet Jr. are the leading candidates to start on the interior. James Hansen was out in the spring. Rice transfer De’Braylon Carroll is coming along and shows flashes. Trevon McAlpine was also mentioned as a young guy who is improving. 
• Joseph Adedire and Dylan Spencer figure to be the team’s best edge rushers, but both are out for the spring. The good news is they’re expected to be full participants by summer. That’s allowed Isaac Smith, Charles Esters III, and Ameir Washington to get more work. 
• Linebacker might be the strength of the defense. Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts are penciled in as starters. DeRuyter calls Bryce Ramirez “the spiritual leader of the team.” Learn the name John Curry because the local redshirt freshman impressed all spring. 
• The safety position is a small concern, at least from a depth perspective. CJ Baskerville moved from STAR (nickel) to boundary safety and is competing with TCU transfer Javeon Wilcox. Brenden Jordan and A.J. McCarty are the names to know at STAR. Chapman Lewis and Jordan Sanford are at free safety. 
• Bralyn Lux figures to lock down one cornerback spot. Maurice Horn is the favorite to start at the other corner spot but Jalon Peoples and Devynn Cromwell flashed in the spring and will provide competition at corner.