Texas Tech Football: QB Nic Shimonek should be in Heisman discussion

By VF Castro | Sep 21, 2017

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Nic Shimonek /

Texas Tech Football fifth-year senior quarterback Nic Shimonek deserves to be in Heisman discussion, but it’s up to the defense to help him earn the respect he deserves.

Texas Tech Football has been praised over the years for its high octane offense, with quarterbacks and wide receivers worthy of every Heisman and Biletnikoff awards presentation. Unfortunately, the Texas Tech defense hasn’t exactly helped catapult the brand as a whole into national discussion since the Mike Leach era.

Patrick Mahomes should have been in Heisman discussion the last two seasons, however, Tech just couldn’t seal enough wins to give the Red Raiders a national platform. It’s unfortunate Tech couldn’t come up with enough stops to give Mahomes the edge, but that needs to change, and the future of Texas Tech Football depends on it.

When Nic Shimonek transferred to Texas Tech back in 2014, he knew he would face a challenge in the quarterback competition. Thankfully, due to NCAA transfer rules, he was ineligible that season, where he took the time to learn the offense, and study under some of the best in the business in Mahomes, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. When Shimonek saw the field last season, he proved the chemistry was organic, and commanded the offense as if he was the full-time starter.

While the 2016 season didn’t go as expected for the Red Raiders, many anticipated that Mahomes would declare for the Draft. Given Shimonek’s performance against Kansas, most fans felt the offense was in good shape, but there were plenty of skeptics. After all, how could Texas Tech replicate a once-in-a-lifetime player, plus get its defense performing at similar levels? The short answer: it couldn’t. Shimonek doesn’t have the elusiveness Mahomes did, and after two games, his rushing yards are in the negative. But what he offers that Mahomes didn’t, is a penetrating awareness of the football field.

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In several situations last season, Mahomes would step up and survey the field, often missing open receivers and electing to run the ball to escape pressure. Under a stout offensive line, Shimonek has had ample time to go through his reads, and make pro-style decisions, proving his maturity and aptitude in Kingsbury’s system.

Mahomes put up incredible numbers at Texas Tech, but this season, the Tech offense hasn’t skipped a beat under Shimonek, ranking No. 1 in passing offense, No. 1 in total offense, No. 4 in total passing efficiency, and in the Top 10 for passes intercepted at zero, through 85 attempts. The only spot on the offense where Texas Tech has noticeable room for improvement is in the run game, where Tech currently has the No. 99 ranked rushing offense.

As it stands, there are four players who have had prominent placement in the Heisman discussion: Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph, Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, and USC QB Sam Darnold. It’s also important to mention that four of the 10 Big 12 quarterbacks are in the Top 10 in national passing yards, including Mayfield, Rudolph, West Virginia QB Will Grier, and Kansas’ QB Peyton Bender.

Mayfield has thrown for 63-82, 10 touchdowns, and 1,046 yards. Rudolph has thrown for 68-94, 11 touchdowns, one interception, and 1,135 yards. Sam Darnold is the No. 12 passer nationally, throwing for eight touchdowns, and 1,002 yards. And coming in as the No. 17 rated passer in the nation right now, Nic Smimonek has thrown for 60-80, nine touchdowns, and 927 yards in Texas Tech’s first two games.

With wins against an Eastern Washington team that beat Washington State last year, and against ASU, which hired Alabama talent in the offseason, Texas Tech and Nic Shimonek have laid the foundation for Shimonek to be considered for Heisman discussion. What it comes down to, however, is whether Texas Tech is able to compete, and complete the season to give its players the best opportunity to be up for coveted post-season accolades.

Next: Texas Tech Football Faces Balanced Houston Cougars

Texas Tech faces a long road ahead this season, but if they can continue playing with the same intensity and urgency they demonstrated in the first two games, the season will be a success, and the post-season will write itself. For now, the focus is on a very talented Houston Cougars team, and each player doing their job like their team mates and coaches’ jobs depend on it.

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