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Texas Tech football: 5 Preferred walk-on’s that could eventually play for Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT /
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K – Alan Orona

Maybe one of the biggest wins for Texas Tech in terms of 2019 walk-on players came in the kicking game.  LaGrange, TX place kicker Alan Orona is now walking on after being a long-time verbal commit to the Kingsbury staff.

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In June, he became Kingsbury’s preferred replacement for Clayton Hatfield, who left Texas Tech tied for the most career field goals in program history.  But when Wells took over, it appeared as if Orona would have to explore other options when the new regime signed two scholarship kickers.  But this week, he agreed to walk-on with the Red Raiders.

In the prestigious Kohl’s Kicking Camp, Orona earned 5-star honors as a field goal kicker and 4-star honors as a punter.  The left-footed kicker, who is also a high school soccer player, could help Tech avoid a disaster like we saw in 2017.

Two years ago, a preseason hip injury suffered by Hatfield caused Tech to have to turn to Michael Barden, Matthew Cluck and Michael Ewton for six games and all three were disastrous.  That trio made just 6-13 kicks as Tech went just 12-23 as a team costing the team two potential wins.

Orona is a legitimate college kicker and will compete for a job this year.  JUCO signee Jonathan Garibay is expected to enter the offseason as the leader to be Tech’s placekicker and freshman kicker Austin McNamara will also figure in to the competition as well as likely being Tech’s punter next year.

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But in convincing Orona to take a walk-on spot, Tech has further solidified a position that many overlook despite being one that can single-handedly wreck a season.  If Orona is as good of a kicker as the Kingsbury staff believed, he could eventually be a very important member of the Texas Tech football team.

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