Texas Tech football had two players named to the Big 12 Media Preseason Football Team on Wednesday, in WR Keke Coutee, and kicker Clayton Hatfield.
Texas Tech Football received some preseason acknowledgements on Wednesday, as it was announced that two Red Raiders had been named to the Big 12 Media Preseason Football Team.
Wreck ‘Em Red wrote about Keke Coutee, but kicker Clayton Hatfield has some stellar numbers that has helped position Texas Tech special teams as the No. 84 special teams’ unit in the nation in 2016.
Texas Tech had a 79.2 percent rating on offense, a 25.2 percent rating on defense, and a 45 percent on special teams, with a 55.6 percent net efficiency overall. The NCAA ratings are based off per-play, and strength of special teams faced.
For Texas Tech Football, it had much more efficiency at the kicking position, where Clayton Hatfield ranked No. 64 in the nation in field goals made and No. 10 in extra points, having made 65 of 70 field goals last season.
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While other kickers and special teams units in the Big 12 were ranked higher than Texas Tech, and Hatfield in several areas, Tech’s scoring efficiency overall was No. 9 in the nation, and No. 8 in total scoring.
Hatfield finished 2016 with 13 field goals made, 65 extra points, and 104 total points on the season. Perhaps if Texas Tech needed him in more scoring positions, he would have been ranked higher nationally, however, his performance against TCU was the definition of “clutch.”
As Texas Tech fans know, any road game is particularly difficult, but TCU is one of the games circled every year where a win is 100 percent tangible. With a 37 yard field goal in double overtime against the Horned Frogs, Hatfield nailed it, cementing a 27-24 victory.
Hatfield scored double-digit points against Stephen F. Austin, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma, and Baylor last season, and made four field goals from 40-49 yards out.
Hatfield’s efficiency going into 2017 should put Red Raiders at ease, that should long range situations present themselves, Hatfield will be ready.
As reported in Coutee’s profile, there are 14 seniors, 12 juniors, and three sophomores. Of the receivers, Coutee is joined by Oklahoma State’s James Washington, and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard. Washington was a unanimous selection. Fourteen of the student-athletes selected were also named to the 2016 All Big 12 First Team, with eight on the second team.