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Texas Tech football: Matt Wells discusses spring progress

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders exits the team bus before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders exits the team bus before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Newcomers are turning heads, especially on defense

One sobering reality that Texas Tech football fans must face is the fact that the program that finished 2019 ranked just 127th nationally out of 130 teams in total defense must replace three of the best players from last season’s team, LB Jordyn Brooks, S Douglas Coleman, and DE Broderick Washington.  If Tech has a shot at filling those shoes, it’s going to be up to a handful of newcomers to step in and make an immediate impact and Wells gave some thoughts on how a few of his newest players are adjusting to life as Red Raiders.

Along the defensive line, Tech will need DE Devin Drew to be part of the two-deep rotation.  The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last fall had 9.5 sacks for Iowa Western and there’s hope that he can give Tech some important snaps in 2020.

"“Devin Drew, still you know he’s big and strong,” Wells said.  “He’s going to add depth to our d-line.”"

Often, JUCO players are not ready to play in major conferences like the Big 12 because they are behind physically due to the lack of proper strength and nutrition programs at the JUCO level.  Thus, the fact that Wells touts Drew’s strength and size is a good sign because it may mean that he is not as far away as many JUCO players from being ready to give this team some much-needed instant help at defensive end.

Wells then turned his attention to another JUCO player, Krishon Merriweather.  Many expect the JUCO All-American to get the first crack at replacing Brooks at middle LB and the head coach seemed impressed with what he’s seen of Garden City C.C. product thus far.

"“Krishon Merriweather has hit the ground running, literally and figuratively,” he said.  “The guy can flat run. You know the first two days, he took two steps forward, he took two steps back and he didn’t even move out of that spot and he still outran guys to the ball. Now, he’s really cleared his cleats and you can tell he’s really taking coaching and he made a couple of really nice plays late in this practice today. Krishon is going to be a really, really good addition.”"

Also expected to help fortify the LB corps is Michigan State grad transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle.  But according to Wells, an injury is slowing the versatile OLB as he recovers from shoulder surgery that he underwent in the fall.

Keep these three names in the back of your head as the season approaches because they all have important roles to play on defense.  That’s where this team has the most ground to make up if it wants to compete in the Big 12 and if these three veteran newcomers can help fill the holes left by the departure of some good players from 2019, there’s hope that the defense will be competitive enough to give Tech a fighting shot each week.

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