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Texas Tech Football: Jett Duffey; Other Suspended Players Return

By Matthew Conner

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders surveys the field as the team arrives before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Texas Tech Red Raiders surveys the field as the team arrives before the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Just over a week after four Texas Tech football players were suspended by head coach Kliff Kingsbury following arrests outside a Lubbock bar, the players returned to practice ahead of this weekend’s Frisco scrimmage.

It appears that the most recent round of Texas Tech football drama has come to a close.   The four players suspended after being arrested Sunday, March 25th outside a Lubbock bar returned to practice Tuesday.

"“They served their suspension the previous week, and their punishment.” Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday.  “So we got them back out there taking some reps, trying to get them back in the mix.”"

The four players, quarterback Jett Duffey, wide receiver Quan Shorts, linebacker Christian Taylor and corner back Desmond Smith had remained with the team during their suspensions but had been doing extra conditioning work with the strength and conditioning staff as part of their punishments.

Of course, the most notable of the four players is Duffey, the redshirt sophomore who is expected to be the starting quarterback this fall.  The quick return of Duffey is good news for a Texas Tech team looking to fill its most important position with an inexperienced player, regardless of who starts.

Duffey is currently competing with McLane Carter and true freshman Alan Bowman for the starting spot and all indications are that Duffey is the most ready to lead the offense.  Having him back for the end of the spring practice period could prove to be crucial as the final few workouts will be the last live-action practice reps he will have until fall camp opens in August.

Practice reps are more valuable for this year’s crop of Texas Tech quarterbacks than perhaps ever before.  The three potential starters have combined to attempt just 48 passes at Texas Tech with 46 of those coming in Carter’s lone career start last November at Texas.

With only two career pass attempts, Duffey is certainly green.  That reality is only underscored by the fact that the former star high school recruit has missed significant time on two different occasions during his brief college career.

Duffey was suspended for two semesters due to a Title IX violation that occurred his first semester on campus.  As a result, he missed all of spring practice last year and was not with the team during summer workouts.  Then, during last season, Duffey was shut down for a significant portion of the season due to shoulder inflammation.  So not only is Duffey short on game reps, he is behind most other players his age in even practice reps.

That makes every practice all the more critical for the Mansfield, Texas product.  Still, his talent is enough to excite Texas Tech fans and coaches.

As a senior in 2015, Duffey won the Landry Award as the top high school football player in the greater North Texas area which is primarily comprised of the talent-rich Dallas-Ft. Worth area.  In fact, no quarterback recruit to come to Texas Tech since Graham Harrell in 2005 has been as highly decorated a recruit as Duffey.

But while the presumed starting quarterback is now back with the team, there still is some question as to whether he and the other suspended players will be able to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage in Frisco, Texas.

"“We’re still sorting through that.” Kingsbury said.  “We still don’t know exactly.  We should know by Thursday’s practice if we’re going to end up taking them or not.”"

Kingsbury said that Smith is injured but the other three players are all cleared by the coaches to return.  He did not indicate whether the question of taking the players to Frisco is a legal matter but his remarks imply that the university will have quite a bit of say in the matter.

"“We’re just working through the process really.” he said.  “Through the university and our program and going from there.”"

Next: Texas Tech Must Find A Pass Rush

Should the players not be allowed to travel to Frisco, they will have one final live scrimmage in Lubbock at the end of spring practice to put their best foot forward.  In addition to Duffey, Shorts is vying for a starting receiver spot and Smith is in the mix to start at corner so each is likely anxious to get back to competition.

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