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Texas Tech football: 3 Red Raiders that could be first-team All-Big 12

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Left guard Weston Wright #70 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the second half of 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: Left guard Weston Wright #70 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the second half of 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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A Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleader. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
A Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleader. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

TE Travis Koontz

Of all the offensive skill players, TE Travis Koontz might have the best shot at earning All-Big 12 honors.  That’s because the tight end spot is not nearly as loaded in the Big 12 as are the QB, RB, and WR positions.

This year’s preseason first-team TE is Charlie Kolar of Iowa State.  He’s coming off a decent but not spectacular 51-catch, 697-yard, 7-TD season, numbers that wouldn’t be all that difficult to equal or best.

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Granted, for Koontz to approach that territory, he’s going to have to make massive strides from where he was a year ago.  In his first year as a Red Raider, the former No. 2 JUCO TE in the nation caught just 10 passes for 152 yards and no scores.

But there are plenty of reasons to believe that Koontz will have a far greater impact as a senior.  First of all, he is reportedly improved as a player.  He’s up to 260 pounds but also running faster than he did a season ago and OC David Yost has been complimentary of his work so far in fall camp.

Then there is the fact that Koontz is the only TE on the roster that has caught more than one pass as a Red Raider.  Thus, he should get all the snaps he can handle this year.

What’s more, the passing game will likely be more efficient this year with Alan Bowman running the show instead of third-string QB Jett Duffey.  Even if Bowman goes down with another injury, his backup, Maverick McIvor should be an upgrade over Duffey considering that the now redshirt freshman had already surpassed Duffey on the depth chart last year when a broken foot ended his season near the end of fall camp.

I thought about giving Erik Ezukanma this spot but the competition at WR in the BIg 12 is going to be fierce this year.  Even if Exukanma breaks out this year after leading Tech in receiving last season, it’s tough to envision him beating out Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace and OU’s Charleston Rambo.

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Also, OSU RB Chubba Hubbard is as close to a lock as there is to be the first-team RB.  After all, he led the nation in rushing a year ago.  Thus, SaRodorick Thompson isn’t likely to crack the first-team either, regardless of how well he plays (and we all expect him to be fantastic).  So keep an eye on Koontz because if he puts it all together, he could be a surprise All-Big 12 performer.

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