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Texas Tech: Reactions to Matt Wells’ first presser of fall camp

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Transfers that may start

When asked which transfers may start for his team this year, Wells didn’t give specific names saying that it was too early to know but that he’d have some answers after the second scrimmage.

"“You don’t take a junior college guy, whether he’s got three years…or two years, you don’t take a grad transfer that has one or two years and not expect him to come in and get in the mix immediately,” he said.  “So expecting them to get in the mix and them earning that, two different things right? “But they’re going to have to earn it.  They won’t come in and be number one on the depth chart and they won’t jog out with the ones right out the gate.  It’ll be two’s or threes and now it may not take a day or two for some of them to move up, we’ll see.  But they will earn it though. They’re going to earn that respect from their teammates and they’re going to earn that starting spot. “Do I expect all those [JUCO] transfers and grad transfers to play big roles early in the year?  I absolutely do.  Starting on the first snap.”"

While Wells isn’t ready to anoint any incoming transfers as starters, there are plenty that we can be certain head into camp expected to earn starting roles.  From the JUCO ranks, LB Krishon Merriweather and DE Devin Drew, both of whom were JUCO All-Americans in 2019, should receive every opportunity to win a starting job.

The same goes for grad transfers Josh Burger (an OT from Wofford) and LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle (an outside LB from Michigan State).  Meanwhile, LSU grad transfer safety Eric Monroe is virtually assured to start this year and Wells even said that the moment Monroe walked into the football facility, the program got much better.  Also, Alabama transfer Chadarius Townsend is likely to be the primary backup RB behind SaRodorick Thompson.

Wells has doubled-down on the transfers, especially the grad transfers since he took over the reins of the program.  This year, we can expect former transfers Ja’Marcus Ingram (safety), Zech McPhearson (corner), and McLane Mannix (receiver) to start or play meaningful roles in addition to the players mentioned above.  Relying on transfers so heavily is a risky strategy but it is how Wells is attempting to overhaul his roster in an immediate manner.

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