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Texas Tech football: Ranking our confidence in each offensive position group

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders hands the ball to running back Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 during the first half of the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Jett Duffey #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders hands the ball to running back Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 during the first half of the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 16, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 05: Tight end Donta Thompson #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shake hands. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 05: Tight end Donta Thompson #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys shake hands. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tight Ends lack both depth and proven playmakers

The position I’m least confident in on this side of the football is the TE position group.  Because this collection of players is both low on numbers and has no proven starting-caliber Big 12 options, they get just a score of 3 out of 10.

The simple truth is that Tech is left to hope that senior Travis Koontz figures it out in his second year on campus.  But as the old adage goes, hope is not a strategy.

Koontz is going to be this team’s starter by default, not because of what he did last season when he caught just 10 passes for 159 yards and no scores.  Don’t forget that despite being the No. 2 JUCO TE in the nation in the class of 2019, he was beaten out by first-year TE Donta Thompson, a converted WR.

Perhaps the lack of a full spring practice season helped Koontz as much as any player because no one else had the chance to challenge him for the starting job.  But then again, there weren’t really any competitors set to be on campus to push him.

The only other scholarship TE Tech had available this spring was supposed to be redshirt freshman Simon Gonzalez.  However, a team suspension kept him out of the four practices that were held.

Tech is also bringing two new faces into the mix at this spot but neither imbues us with much confidence.  John Holcomb is a 3-star signee who played at the 2-A level in high school and will likely need some time to develop physically before contributing.

Meanwhile, Jason Lloyd is a 3-star JUCO transfer who caught just 13 passes for 200 yards and one TD last fall.  Still, despite those modest stats, he’s likely to factor in as the No. 2 TE on the depth chart when camp opens.

The reality is that Tech just doesn’t have any options that have proven reliable at this position.  What’s more, years of ignoring the TEs altogether has given the program a depth issue with only one player having taken a single snap in college.  That’s why the tight ends are the players we have the least confidence in on offense.

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