Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Four True Freshman That Could Have Impact In 2018

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 14: The Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 14, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-44. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 14: The Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 14, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-44. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 08: The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider during a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 08: The Texas Tech Red Raiders Masked Rider during a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT /

RB – Ta’Zhawn Henry 5-foot-7, 170-pounds

The 2018 Texas Tech offense needs to find some home run threats capable of breaking games open with one play.  In 2017, the two biggest threats to make a big play were inside receiver Keke Coutee and running back Justin Stockton and both are now gone.

Filling the Stockton’s role could be speedy freshman Ta’Zhawn Henry.  The diminutive running back from Houston is electric with the ball in his hands.  Despite missing almost half of his senior season with an injury, Henry still amassed over 600 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. As a junior, he put up 1,347 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He will have a significant role to play replacing Stockton.  On screen passes, draw plays and sweeps, Stockton was a threat to break off a huge gain on any play.

In 2017, Stockton had 1,032 total yards and five touchdowns, his most productive collegiate season.  He led the team with 797 rushing yards in what was a nice rebound season following a horrendous junior campaign.

Finding big play threats is going to be key for this year’s Red Raiders.  Last season, Kingsbury’s offense struggled when opposing defenses employed a soft coverage defensive scheme designed to keep the ball in front of the defensive backs and prevent big plays.  Such defenses were utilized by TCU, which surrendered only three points to the Red Raiders and Iowa State which gave up just 13.

Texas Tech needs Henry to be a big play threat.  He will likely only see the field for a handful of snaps each week, partially because of his small size and partially because of the presence of veteran running backs like Da’Leon Ward and Tre King.  But when he has the ball, Henry needs to threaten the defense and give Texas Tech the potential of a huge play that could turn the game in the Red Raiders’ favor.

Home/Texas Tech Football