Texas Tech Football: Four Young Players That Must Break Out In 2017
This year, the Texas Tech football team is going to be counting on many young players to make significant contributions. Here are four underclassmen that must step up for the Red Raiders in 2018.
College football is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world. Every season is littered with teams that fall far short of expectations while others rise from nowhere to contend. This is due in large part to the dependence on young players to contribute immediately and if Texas Tech is to see a turnaround this fall, several underclassmen will have to be big contributors.
Recruiting misses and player transfers have thinned the depth of Kliff Kingsbury’s team. The result is a squad unable to allow top freshmen and sophomores develop physically and mentally as reserves and role players.
This situation is not unique to Texas Tech. Most programs around the nation are now having to rely more heavily on first and second-year players than ever before.
Some of the rush to immediately press young players into action comes from the hype that accompanies these players as they leave high school. Before the age of social media and recruiting websites, fans had almost no knowledge of the players that signed with their school each spring. Two decades ago, the only press high school signees received was one article in the local paper that listed each player along with his home town and measurables.
Now, fans track recruiting year-round and there is a clamor for the “blue chip” prospects to play as soon as possible. Coaches are more influenced by media and boosters than ever before and they must walk the fine line between doing what is best for their players and doing what will keep the natives satiated.
On the other hand, high schoolers are now far more advanced than they were in previous generations. Today’s high school training programs help players arrive on campus physically ready to compete while the evolution of high school offenses and year-round specialization has produced players that understand the game’s nuances on a much greater level.
Texas Tech will have only 18 seniors on the roster this year and fewer than ten of them are likely to be starters. Thus, the Texas Tech coaches will give some young players meaningful roles this year. Here are four underclassmen that must step up to the challenge in 2017 if the Red Raiders are to compete in the Big 12.
Jack Anderson
The Frisco, Texas product was the bell cow of the 2017 Texas Tech recruiting class and he should see plenty of time as part of a rebuilt offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound former 5-star recruit was an Under Armor High School All-American and the most touted offensive line recruit of the Kingsbury era.
He possesses everything one could want in a lineman. His physicality jumps off the screen and he plays with a nasty streak that makes him relish punishing defenders.
Look for Anderson to get every opportunity to earn a starting spot at guard. He was on campus for spring practice and ran with the first team offensive line right from the start.
Plus, there are only five returning offensive linemen on the roster (Madison Akamnonu, Paul Stawarz, Terrence Steel, Tony Morales and Travis Bruffy) that saw significant action in 2017.
That leaves the door wide open for Anderson. And Texas Tech needs him to live up to his billing.
The loss of 2016 quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the NFL places more of a burden on this season’s offensive line. Nick Shimonek is far from being the escape artist that Mahomes was and he will need a more solid pocket from which to operate.
Also, the Texas Tech run game must improve. Last season, Tech ranked 123rd in the nation with just 101.5 rushing yards per game. Worse, the Red Raiders ranked last in the Big 12 in yards per rush at just 3.1.
With a first-time starter at quarterback, Kingsbury will want his ground game to be more consistent. Plus, an effective rushing attack could help the Red Raiders protect their suspect defense by keeping the ball away from the potent Big 12 offenses.
Texas Tech inked four highly-touted linemen in last year’s class and Anderson might not be the only one to see significant playing time.
Anderson’s high school teammate Dawson Deaton, Plano, Texas’ Casey Verhulst and Richmond, Texas native Will Farrar join Anderson to comprise the best Texas Tech offensive line signing class in recent memory.
While all could see time on the field this year, look for Anderson to make the biggest impact. He has the potential to be one of the best in program history.