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Texas Tech football: Where Red Raiders need transfer help after NSD

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr. #96 and defensive lineman Eli Howard V #53 of Texas Tech celebrate a tackle by Washington Jr. during the first half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive lineman Broderick Washington Jr. #96 and defensive lineman Eli Howard V #53 of Texas Tech celebrate a tackle by Washington Jr. during the first half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the UTEP Miners at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Wide receiver RJ Turner #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Wide receiver RJ Turner #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

After this week’s National Signing Day for the class of 2020, the Texas Tech football program still needs to add some help at the following positions via the transfer portal.

Texas Tech football head coach Matt Wells has a plan.  Whether or not it is a wise one remains to be seen.

With the passing of this week’s National Signing Day bringing just one more high school prospect into the mix, 3-star DE Philip Blidi from Portales, N.M., Wells and his staff still have a handful of scholarships to hand out and a roster with some glaring holes to fill.  So for the second-straight offseason, the Red Raiders are almost certain to be one of the most active teams in the nation when it comes to the graduate transfer portal.

There are two conflicting thoughts on this strategy.  Those in favor of it are excited to add players that could immediately play key roles.  Immediate help is something that this program needs given that Tech just completed its fourth-straight losing season and third-straight season without a bowl appearance.

However, opponents of this plan are correct in pointing out that it is tough to build consistency in a program by those means given that grad transfers are typically only on campus for a year.  What’s more, it is fair to point out that virtually every player in the portal comes with concerns.

The 2019 team was a perfect example of the risk and reward of investing heavily in the grad transfer market.  There was receiver R.J. Turner, who stepped up in competition after playing at Louisiana-Monroe and led the Red Raiders in receptions with 45 while finishing second on the team in receiving yards at 645.   Certainly, he was a grad transfer success story.

Another grad transfer that proved to be a wise gamble was corner Zech McPhearson.  Though he didn’t come up with an interception, the former 4-star recruit and transfer from Penn State was the Red Raiders’ best corner in 2019 and he will be back for one more season in 2020.  Like many grad transfers, he came to Tech looking for more playing time and that’s what Wells and Co. will be selling again to transfers this offseason.

But other grad transfers that Tech relied upon in 2019 fell victim to the same problems that have plagued them throughout their careers.  Running back Armand Shyne was limited to eight games while safety Evan Rambo played in only six because of injuries.

Both Shyne and Rambo were playing well and proving to be integral members of the 2019 team and when their injury histories came back to haunt them, the Red Raiders suffered at those spots on the field.  That is always a concern with grad transfers, which is one reason that many seek new teams as injuries have cost them their spots on the depth chart.

It’s now obvious that Wells is going to double-down on that strategy as he has currently signed only 19 high school or JUCO players in the 2020 class.  What’s more, he’s already brought in Michigan State grad transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle who will likely slot into the starting lineup in place of All-American LB Jordyn Brooks.

So let’s take a look at some position groups that are likely going to be supplemented with grad transfers this offseason.  And we will start with the position group that will be the team’s biggest question mark as we head into spring practices.

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