Texas Tech Football: Top 10 Red Raiders quarterbacks of all time
No.5 B.J. Symons
Had B.J. Symons played more than one year for Texas Tech, he might be at the top of this list. After waiting his turn to start while Kliff Kingsbury starred at Texas Tech, the gunslinger from Houston, TX made the most of his senior season in 2003.
A strong argument can be made that Symons’ 2003 season is the best season a Texas Tech quarterback has ever had. The brash signal-caller set NCAA records with 5,976 total yards from scrimmage, 5,833 yards passing, and most games of over 400 yards total offense in one season with 11.
But what made Symons’ lone season as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback even more legendary is that he played half of the season with a torn ligament in his knee. In the sixth game of the season against Iowa State, Symons injured his knee while celebrating after a touchdown pass. Knowing that he would have only one season to play, Symons played through the season not missing a start.
In the seven games he played with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Symons passed for 2,849 yards.
Without question, the most confident and brash quarterback in school history; Symons was also one of the most talented. Had he started for three or four years, the Texas Tech and NCAA record books might have his name atop multiple categories.
His career game came against Mississippi in 2003 when he passed for 661 yards to lead Texas Tech to a comeback victory. Moments like that are what made B.J. Symons one of the greatest quarterbacks in Texas Tech history.
Next: No. 4 Billy Joe Tolliver