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Texas Tech football: Five underrated players from the Kingsbury era

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4 : Dylan Cantrell #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State defeated Texas Tech 42-35 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 4 : Dylan Cantrell #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warms up before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Kansas State defeated Texas Tech 42-35 in overtime. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Deante Burton #6 of the Kansas State Wildcats is unable to make the catch against the defense of Keenon Ward #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Deante Burton #6 of the Kansas State Wildcats is unable to make the catch against the defense of Keenon Ward #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Safety Keenon Ward was a steadying presence at the back of the defense

As we have learned all too well, to survive in the Big 12, you have to have some talent in the secondary.  And Tech fans know that just one quality defensive back is not going to cut it in the nation’s top offensive conference.

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That’s why former safety Keenon Ward was never able to elevate his defenses to the top of the league despite being one of the more dependable defensive backs to come through the program in the last decade.

From 2013-16, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound native of Snyder amassed 186 career tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.  Often forced to battle through injuries because of his diminutive size, he was limited to only 23 starts in 44 career games.

But when he was at full-strength, he was a fearless tackler and a leader who quarterbacked the secondary.  Much like a child’s security blanket, he brought to the field a calming presence that is invaluable.

His best year was his sophomore campaign when he had 67 tackles and a pick.  His best game was a 16-tackle performance at home against West Virginia that same season.

We’ve been rather lucky with the play we’ve had from at least one Red Raider safety every year since Ward stepped on campus.  Following in his footsteps were Jah’Shawn Johnson and Douglas Coleman, both of whom were also calming presences and rocks upon which the secondary could lean.

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But now we enter the 2020 season with no certain answers at either safety position.  If Tech can’t find another player to step up along the last line of the defense, it will be a tough year again for the secondary.  And as Ward, Johnson, and Coleman have taught us, Matt Wells and DC Keith Patterson had probably better find a pair of capable safeties because one is rarely enough.

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