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Positions To Watch In Texas Tech Spring Game

By Matthew Conner

BIRMINGHAM, AL - DECEMBER 23: Justus Parker
BIRMINGHAM, AL - DECEMBER 23: Justus Parker /
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Texas Tech will hold its annual spring game tonight at Jones Stadium giving players one final opportunity to impress the coaches before the summer strength and conditioning program begins.  Here are the position groups to pay close attention to as the Red Raiders wrap up the spring.

Quarterbacks

The most important position on the field has naturally been the most scrutinized this spring for Texas Tech.  The first goal of this offseason for Kliff Kingsbury must be to find his starting quarterback.

The competition has been a three-way race between sophomore Jett Duffey, junior McLean Carter and true freshman Alan Bowman.  It is widely believed that the job is Duffey’s to lose so the intrigue surrounding the quarterbacks tonight is not in who performs best but in how the group as a unit looks.

There’ve virtually nothing that will happen tonight to cause Duffey to lose the job and there’s nothing that Carter or Bowman can do in one practice to jump to the top of the depth chart.  But all three need to show that they are capable of doing what the offense asks of them.

And all three have something different to prove.

Duffey has all the athleticism and physical tools needed to be a great quarterback.  Tonight, look to see if he is accurate with the ball and, more importantly, pay attention to how well he keeps the ball out of harm’s way.  Duffey’s biggest challenge is to learn when to take chances with his great physical skills and when to make the safe play.  If he demonstrates an understanding in this aspect of the game, fans should be excited about his future.

Carter is facing the opposite situation.  He must show that he can make any throw Kingsbury and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns ask him to make. He demonstrated questionable arm strength last season and must prove that the offense will not be limited with him under center.

Bowman must demonstrate to the coaches that the pace of the college game is not too much for him.  He needs to play with an understanding of the offense proving that he can execute the scheme with efficiency by limiting mental mistakes.

Running Backs

There appears to be two running backs competing for carries this fall.  Texas Tech will have to run the ball more this season than in years past because of the inexperience of the quarterbacks and receivers on the roster.

Presumed starter Trey King has been a bit slowed by injury this spring allowing Da’Leon Ward to challenge for the starting position.  Ward has had a great spring on and off the field as he’s shown that he is still a quality player following a year away from the team last season and proving to the coaches he has matured in the classroom.

The coaches know what King is as a player so he has less to prove.  Ward, however, is still developing and rounding into form but he has been impressive this spring.

If Ward continues his upward trajectory tonight, he could easily head into the summer as the leading candidate to win the starting job.

Receivers

Texas Tech heads into the 2018 season having to replace 70% of the production from last season’s receivers.  The only known quantity is redshirt sophomore T.J. Vasher who came on strong to end last season.  The other three receiver positions are up for gabs and no one has made enough of a move this spring to set himself apart.

Pay close attention to how Antoine Wesley is used.  He spent quite a bit of time in the slot this spring but recently he has worked on the outside again, where he has been for the majority of his time on campus.

Another player to watch is redshirt freshman walk-on Dalton Rigdon.  The Perryton native is also a high jumper for the Texas Tech track team and has used his elite speed to make big plays including a 53-yard touchdown in the Frisco scrimmage last week.

Other players who could do themselves a favor with a strong showing tonight include inside receivers De’Quan Bowman and Jojo Robinson as well as outside receivers Quan Shorts and Ja’Deion High.

Defensive Backs

One of the deepest position groups for Texas Tech is the defensive backfield.  There are a number of talented players trying to separate themselves from the competition tonight.

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The only entrenched starter is senior safety Jah’Shawn Johnson, a three-year starter.  But how defensive coordinator David Gibbs will surround him this fall is up in the air.

Vaughnte Dorsey and Kisean Allen are the top contenders to lineup next to Johnson at safety.  Both saw significant time last year and the race between the two is neck-and-neck.

At corner, see if Desmon Smith,  Adrian Frye, Quincy Addison, Douglas Coleman, Jaylon Lane or DeMarcus Fields can make enough noise to distinguish themselves.  With the emergence of Justus Parker as a playmaker at corner last year, there should only be one starting spot open for the six candidates to compete for.

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But in the pass-happy Big 12, Texas Tech will need at least four corners it can count on.  It is time for someone in this group to finally step forward and show that they are ready for a significant role this year.

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