Texas Tech football: Players that benefitted from the abbreviated spring

SaRodorick Thompson

Unlike Koontz, sophomore SaRodorick Thompson has huge expectations upon his shoulders after a breakout 2019.  That’s because, in his first season as a starter, he was able to lead Tech on the ground with 765yards and 12 TDs.

But like Koontz, there is nothing behind him in the way of competition.  That’s due to the fact that he is the only scholarship running back on the roster to have ever carried the ball for the Red Raiders.  In fact, Alabama grad transfer Chadarius Townsend is the only other Red Raider RB with a college carry and he’s done that just eight times after being a jack of all trades for the Crimson Tide. Thus, Thompson also did not need to risk his health this spring.

We learned the hard way last year that life in the Big 12 is tough on running backs.  Tech entered the season with three healthy options, just as will be the case this year, and none were unscathed by the time November rolled around, including Thompson, who fought through injury to play all 12 games, the only Tech RB to be able to answer the bell in every game.

The nature of football is hell on running backs.  It seems like that position, more than any other, is always one false step from disaster and even the spring can be a dicey proposition.

Thompson needs to be ready to handle a huge amount of work this fall.  Thus, should he have been seriously injured in the spring, Tech’s offense would have been in dire straits months before 2020’s first game ever rolled around, whenever that may be.