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Texas Tech football: Predictions for the Red Raiders in 2019

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes the catch for a touchdown against Corione Harris #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the game on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: T.J. Vasher #9 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes the catch for a touchdown against Corione Harris #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half of the game on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Tech’s running backs will run for at least 1,600 yards

1,600 yards from the Tech running backs might not seem impressive.  After all, Memphis’ Darrell Henderson surpassed that mark by over 300 yards himself last year.

But stop to think how awful the Tech ground game was in 2018.  As a team, the Red Raiders ran for 1,591 yards and no player on the team surpassed 400 yards on the season.  Worst of all, third-string QB Jett Duffey was the team’s leader with 369 yards.

The five Tech running backs last fall accounted for just 1,242 yards.  That’s an average of only 284.4 for each player.

But David Yost wants to run the ball and he and his offensive line coach Steve Farmer know how to teach players to run out of the spread.  Last year, Utah State ran for 2,641 yards with 1,932 coming from the RB duo of Darwin Thompson and Gerold Bright.

This year, we don’t know if any of the three Tech running backs are capable of putting up over 1,000 yards like Darwin Thompson did last fall.  But it seems logical to think that in this new offense, the trio of Ta’Zhawn Henry, SaRodorick Thompson, and Armand Shyne can average at least 500 yards each.

One of these players is likely to break out and carry the load.  I predict that will be Thompson, who has the look of a complete all-around back given his size and surprising explosiveness.  But as a redshirt freshman, he’s yet to prove that he can be that guy.  He’ll get his shot starting today.

Last year, Tech finished second-to-last in the Big 12 with an average of 132.6 yards per game on the ground.  If the RBs can run for 1,500 yards, it will be a sign that the offense is starting to turn in the right direction.  Behind what is expected to be a very good offensive line, this is a goal that is more than attainable.

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