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Texas Tech football: Numerous roster changes precede start of spring practice

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TEXAS – OCTOBER 12: Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears is pursued by Adrian Frye #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
WACO, TEXAS – OCTOBER 12: Charlie Brewer #12 of the Baylor Bears is pursued by Adrian Frye #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 12, 2019 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Tech moves one of its starting safeties back to corner

Spring is often a time of position experimentation as coaches look to see if players might be able to better help the team by moving to a new spot on the field.  In the case of defensive back Adrian Frye, moving from safety back to his natural position of corner might be the best change that could happen to him in regards to his football career.

Last spring, Frye moved to safety along with fellow corner Douglas Coleman as Tech had to replace both of 2018’s veteran starters Jah’Shawn Johnson and Vaughnte Dorsey.  The experiment was a success for Coleman who had eight interceptions during his senior year but for redshirt sophomore Frye, it was a disaster.

As a redshirt freshman in 2018, the Houston native led Texas Tech with 13 pass defenses and five picks.  That performance saw him garner freshman All-American honors.

But last fall, he didn’t take well to the position and scheme change while also being plagued with numerous injuries (including a broken hand that caused him to play with a cast for much of the season).  Arguably the 2019 team’s worst player, Frey was a debilitating liability as time and again, teams ran speedy receivers right at and past him for huge gains.

Finishing the year with just two pass defenses and one interception, Frye looked to be a prime candidate to move back to his old stomping grounds and that’s what Wells recently said was going to happen. But this move leaves a huge hole to fill at safety.

None of the players Tech currently has at that spot are sure-fire solutions.  Thomas Leggett and Ja’Marcus Ingram were second-string players who played meaningful snaps last fall but who both did little to prove ready to assume a starting role.  Both seem to be willing tacklers but both also struggle in coverage, the top job of any safety.

Junior Adam Beck might be an intriguing option after coming on strong towards the end of the year but he played the “spur” hybrid LB spot last fall where he didn’t have to cover the deep portion of the field as often.  Meanwhile, sophomore DB Alex Hogan is going to get a look at safety after acquiting himself decently at corner in a reserve role during his first season on campus.

Either way, keep an eye on this spot during spring practice because Frye’s move makes this the most unsettled position on the team.  Whether the players that remain or some new blood that could arrive this summer are able to improve the safety spot could be the most important aspect of the defense in 2020.

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