How Did The Texas Tech Football QB Situation Become So Shaky?

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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 02: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers warms up prior to the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Jarrett Stidham’s Last-Minute Decommittment In December 2014

Throughout the majority of the 2015 recruiting cycle, the Texas Tech football program was poised to sign the most highly-ranked quarterback prospect in program history. Five-star QB Jarrett Stidham of Stephenville, Texas committed to Texas Tech in the spring of 2014 and was the centerpiece of the 2015 class until he decomitted in mid December.

Stidham was supposed to be the next great Texas Tech QB and take over after Pat Mahomes moved on. But when he decomitted, it blew a huge hole in the 2015 signing class.

His timing could not have been worse. By changing his mind just a week before the dead period encompassing Christmas and New Years when coaches are not allowed to contact recruits, Stidham put Kingsbury in an impossible situation.

By the time Kingsbury could begin recruiting again in January, he had less than a month to try to find a new quarterback and recruit him to Tech. Kingsbury tried to lure Ben Hicks away from SMU but was unable to build enough of a relationship in three weeks to flip him.

In addition to losing Hicks, Tech also lost out on another 5-star QB in the 2015 cycle because of Stidham. When Tech was recruiting Stidham, Kingsbury was also heavily involved with 5-star Allen, TX QB Kyler Murray who had visited Texas Tech on more than one occasion.

But when Stidham committed, Murray looked elsewhere eventually signing with Texas A&M. Now, Murray is in line to be the starting QB at Oklahoma after transferring from A&M.

Though he has no more experience than Carter or Duffey, he is far more of a safe bet to be a solid QB than any of the current Red Raider QBs. Also, had Murray come to Texas Tech, he likely would already have a year of starting experience under his belt as the 2017 starter.

If Stidham had not bailed on Texas Tech, he would be the unquestioned starter for the Red Raiders this season. As it is, he is a rising star at Auburn poised to lead a top 25 Tiger squad.

When Stidham pulled a fast one on Kingsbury at the last minute, Tech was left with no answers at QB. By not signing a quarterback in the 2015 class, Tech was left with a hole in the line of succession at quarterback that is still causing problems.

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