Texas Tech Football: Handing Out Game Balls After Win Over Kansas

On Saturday, the Texas Tech football team cruised to a 65-19 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawerence, Kansas. Here are four players that led the way and earned prestigious “Wreck ‘Em Red” game balls.

Desmond Nisby

Saturday was finally the day that Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury decided to do what fans have been wanting him to do since week one, feed Desmond Nisby. The 235-pound JUCO transfer running back has captivated fans with his bruising and violent running style.

However, Nisby carried the ball only nine times in the past two games causing many to question why Kingsbury decided not to use this unique weapon more. But, against Kansas, Nisby had a season-high 11 carries and he rewarded Kingsbury with 93 yards and four big touchdowns.

There is no player on the Red Raider offense that can set the tone physically like Nisby. His 47-yard first quarter touchdown run put the Red Raiders up two scores over the underdog Jayhawks and assuaged any concerns Tech fans may have had about a possible slow start in the mausoleum that is Memorial Stadium in Lawerence.

Far too often, the Texas Tech running backs struggle because they are to small to grind out tough yards between the tackles. That is precisely where Nisby excels and that skill is desperately needed in this offense.

Perhaps Saturday’s performance will warrant more work consistent work for Nisby moving forward in Big 12 play. If Kingsbury and the coaching staff trust Nisby in all facets of the game (such as pass protection), he almost certainly will be an integral part of the Texas Tech attack.

Justus Parker

Though there was little drama in Texas Tech’s 46-point win, Kansas made a bit of noise to begin the second half. The home team cut the Texas Tech lead to 35-19 and recovered a fumble to seize momentum.

However, Texas Tech defensive back Justus Parker single-handedly put a stop to the KU run. Parker forced a fumble and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown to end any Kansas comeback hopes.

Then, on the next series, the sophomore walk-on transfer from Texas Lutheran intercepted a Carter Stanley pass and returned it 25 yards. Two plays later, Texas Tech receiver Keke Coutee hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass to put the lead at 48-19 and officially start the route.

Parker is the latest Red Raider to have a hand in multiple turnovers in a game following the lead of defensive end Tony Jones and linebacker Dakota Allen, who both have had been responsible for multiple takeaways in games this season.

Justin Stockton

The senior running back had his best game of the season and arguably the best of his career. Stockton ran for 161 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries. He also caught two passes for 33 yards to put him just shy of 200 all-purpose yards on the game.

His 13-yard scamper opened the scoring for Texas Tech and was the first touchdown the Red Raiders have registered on a game’s opening drive in 2017. In recent trips to Lawerence, Tech has been sluggish in the first quarter giving life to over-matched KU teams.

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Stockton helped ensure that would not be the case today. Furthermore, he led a rushing attack that thoroughly dominated the game all afternoon.

Tech ran for 313 yards, a season high which was important with top receiver Keke Coutee slowed by a leg injury sustained a week ago.

Thus far, Stockton has already run for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns, a nice rebound from 2016 when he ran for just 154 yards all season.

Dakota Allen

Giving linebacker Dakota Allen a game ball has become a bit routine this year. He’s been that good almost every week. Against Kansas, Allen recorded eight tackles and intercepted a pass, his second of the season.

Allen and his defensive cohorts shut down Kansas running back Khalil Herbert who entered the game as the hottest running back in the Big 12. In the previous two games, Herbert had run for 428 yards and four touchdowns. That total included 291 yards rushing against West Virginia in KU’s last game.

But Allen and his fellow linebacker Jordyn Brooks (who had 10 total tackles) led a defensive effort that held Herbert to just 65 yards. Kansas entered the game wanting to feed Hebert the ball and exploit the Tech defense on the ground.

However, Allen and the Tech defense was more than up to the task. Allen was once again around the ball all afternoon and he has become the unquestioned leader of the resurgent Red Raider defense.

Next: Texas Tech Receivers Lead Big 12 In This Critical Category

Other Red Raiders worth mentioning include receiver Keke Coutee (8 catches for 87 yards and a TD), safety Jah’Shawn Johnson (7 tackles) and defensive end Kolin Hill (three tackles and a sack).

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