Texas Tech football: Position groups to watch vs. Montana State

Who will replace Clayton Hatfield as Tech’s placekicker?

In 2017, kicking woes cost the Red Raiders at least two games, possibly three. That was not a problem last year when Clayton Hatfield, the best kicker in program history, returned to health and helped steady the kicking game in his senior year.

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In 2018, he combined for 106 points, making 17-of-19 field-goal tries and all 55 extra points. What’s more, his 17 field goals were the most by a Red Raider in a season since Ryan Bustin in 2013. Impressively, he was a perfect 7-of-7 on field-goal attempts from 40 yards or longer.

Now, Tech’s kicking situation is once again up in the air. The only kicker Tech signed in the 2019 class, Jonathan Garibay, has been limited by injury in camp and may not be available this week.

Walk-on redshirt freshman Trey Wolfe may get some opportunities vs. Montana State, especially if Garibay is unable to kick. He has not attempted a FG as a Red Raider nor has true freshman Gabriel Lozano from Austin.

Of course, Yost wants every drive to end in a touchdown. But hopefully, we get an opportunity for one of these kickers to get their first FG try. And hopefully that will come in a low-pressure situation.

Considering that Tech has played 10 one-possession games over the past two years, there’s no way we should overlook the placekicking position. In fall camp, Wells was somewhat dismissive of his kickers but he did praise them for making 17-18 as a group in the second scrimmage.

Let’s hope that we leave this week’s game feeling better about Tech’s kicking situation. That’s because at some point this year, one of these players is going to have to make an important kick in a critical game.