The Texas Tech football teams needs the following players to show improvement in 2019 in order for the Red Raiders to be a factor in the Big 12.
Though we as fans often look towards recruiting as the primary way for a program to improve, the reality is that most of the year-to-year difference in college football comes in the form of improvements (or lack thereof) in the roster’s returning players. That will certainly be a key for this season’s Texas Tech football team.
That’s because there appears to be no ready-to-play true freshmen saviors set to join the team this year. After all, Tech signed only the No. 61 class in the nation and the No. 8 class in the Big 12 in 2019 according to 247Sports. Thus, it would be foolish to expect any tremendous impact from this year’s true freshmen.
That’s not to suggest that we will not see any 2019 signees on the field this fall. Defensive end Gilbert Ibeneme, rated by some scouting services as a 4-star player, will likely be asked to play some meaningful snaps right off the bat. At 6-foot-3, 255-pounds, he already has the size needed to compete at the college level.
Meanwhile, QB Maverick McIvor could compete for the backup job with junior Jett Duffey. Much of what the San Angelo product offers this year may be determined by how well he has recovered from a torn knee ligament suffered in September.
It would be logical to expect tight end Simon Gonzalez from Magnolia, TX to find his way into the two-deep rotation as well. He and JUCO transfer Travis Koontz will be the only true tight ends on the roster this fall as Tech brings that position back into prominence after not featuring tight ends since the Spike Dykes era.
Another freshman that will be pressed into action in his first year as a Red Raider is kicker Austin McNamara, who will likely be Tech’s punter. He could also win the place kicking job as well.
In addition to the incoming freshmen, there is a group of transfers that also figure to be factors in 2019. Several grad transfers have been added to the roster and there is a real possibility that they will provide more than just depth.
Utah grad transfer Armand Shyne will get plenty of carries at running back. His 512 rushing yards last year would have led the Red Raiders and he could end up being a critical part of Tech’s ground attack.
Linebacker Evan Rambo from Cal is another grad transfer to know. He came up with just 15 tackles in 11 games last year after missing all of 2017 with an injury but his size and athleticism could make him a nice fit as an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Keith Patterson’s scheme.
Speaking of transfers, undergrad transfer McLane Mannix might be the most impactful addition to the roster this year. The Midland native was a freshman all-American slot receiver at Nevada in 2017 and has 107 career receptions for 1,653 yards and 13 touchdowns in his collegiate career. Look for Mannix to fight for the starting slot receiver job with sophomore KeSean Carter.
But though there will be a spattering of new faces on the field this fall, the Red Raiders are going to need their returning players to improve across the board if the team is going to take a step forward. Every player can improve, regardless of how good he was in 2018 but the following Red Raiders are players that most need to show improvement in 2019.