Texas Tech football: How former Red Raiders performed in 2019

Da’Leon Ward: Stephen F. Austin

In a year when Texas Tech finished the season with just one healthy scholarship running back, SaRodorick Thompson, Tech could have used a veteran like Da’Leon Ward.  But before the season, the team’s leading returning rusher was kicked off the team.

This year, he played for Stephen F. Austin and ran for 471 yards and a touchdown on 125 carries.  Appearing in seven games, his best outing was a 149-yard showing against Tarleton State.

Ward never could stay in good standing while at Texas Tech.  After leading the Raiders with 428 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman in 2016, he sat out 2017 due to academic issues.

He returned in 2018 to once again lead the team in rushing with 341 yards (tied with Jett Duffey) to go along with three more scores.  He also caught 26 passes for 196 yards and another touchdown.

When Ward was kicked off the team by Matt Wells, it necessitated the addition of grad transfer Armand Shyne.  But being as Tech did not sign a running back in the 2019 class, Ward could have still helped this year’s team, especially when Shyne was lost for the year with broken ribs after the Kansas game.

The Dallas native is a steady player who is never going to be a game-breaker but could have provided the Red Raiders with some insurance this year.  Look for the Red Raiders to not only try to get Shyne an extra year with the NCAA but to also sign two running backs in the class of 2020 to try to prevent a repeat of this season’s running back woes, which were due in part to the knuckleheaded ways of Da’Leon Ward.