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Texas Tech football: Three Oklahoma offensive weapons to know

ByMatthew Conner|
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks with quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners during warmups before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 70-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: Head Coach Lincoln Riley speaks with quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners during warmups before the game against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the South Dakota Coyotes 70-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

Center Creed Humphrey

Most football fans do not watch the line of scrimmage too closely but Saturday, watch the battle in the middle because Tech’s defensive line will be facing one of the nation’s best centers, Creed Humphrey.  The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder is just a redshirt sophomore but he is already the anchor of an o-line that lost four starters to the NFL after last year.

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We often overlook the contributions of the offensive line but that’s where OU’s offensive dominance has begun under Lincoln Riley.  Last year, the Sooner offensive line won the Joe Moore Award given annually to the game’s top line.

For his work, Humphrey earned second-team All-Big 12 honors by the media as well as honorable mention accolades by Big 12 coaches.  He was also voted a freshman All-American by the FWAA and The Athletic after playing in all 14 games at center and starting 12 (including each of the final 11 contests).

It will be key for Tech to prevent Humphrey from dominating the point of attack because if he does, the OU run game will have a huge day.  Hurts is a player that is more apt to run right up the middle of the field should the pocket collapse than Arizona’s Khalil Tate, a smaller QB who used elite speed to scramble around the edge and Humphrey often paves the way.

Against the Wildcats, Tech’s defense was dominated along the line in the second half.  Arizona ran for over 300 yards and ran the ball 18-straight times on the final two drives of the game to run out the clock as the Red Raider defensive line wore down.

If the line is not able to put up better resistance Saturday, the Sooners will be unstoppable.  Junior DT Nick McCann must battle Humphrey to a draw this week.  His job will be to keep the Sonner center from getting to middle linebacker Jordyn Brooks so that Brooks can be free to be Tech’s hammer against the run.

Tech’s defense has a chance to wash the taste of being run over by Arizona out of its mouth after two weeks of chewing on that disappointment.  Whether the middle of the defensive line can keep Humphrey from dictating terms at the point of attack will be a huge key in this game.

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