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Texas Tech football: Takeaways from the first official depth chart of 2020

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Thomas Leggett #16 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders knocks the ball back into the field of play downing the ball on the one yard line during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Thomas Leggett #16 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders knocks the ball back into the field of play downing the ball on the one yard line during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Colin Schooler #7 and Jarvis McCall Jr. #29 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates after they defeated the California Golden Bears in double overtime 45-44 at California Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Colin Schooler #7 and Jarvis McCall Jr. #29 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates after they defeated the California Golden Bears in double overtime 45-44 at California Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Colin Schooler is already the No. 1 “Will” LB

Tech fans expected prolific Arizona LB transfer Colin Schooler to eventually earn a starting job.  However, it is a bit of a surprise that after just two weeks in the program, he’s already listed as the starter at “Will” (weakside) linebacker.

It is a testament to the fact that he is a true football junkie who can pick up a scheme as quickly as can be expected.  Now, Tech fans are fee to speculate just how fantastic this year’s linebacking corps could be.

The “Will” linebacker still plays in the middle of the defense but is more of a blitzing and disrupting force than the “Mike” LB, who is more of a traditional middle linebacker.  The “Mike” is what Schooler played at Arizona and what Jordyn Brooks manned for Tech last season.

At that spot is JUCO All-American Krishon Merriweather as expected.  He comes to Tech after having led the nation in tackles in 2019 with 153.

Senior Riko Jeffers mans the “Sam” outside LB spot.  He figures to be a rather important weapon for Tech this year given his ability to rush the passer, which he will be asked to do quite often in 2020.  We can expect to see plenty of No. 6 in the opposing backfield.

At the “Spur” hybrid LB/DB position, Tech has Kosi Eldridge and Duke transfer Jacob Morgenstern listed as co-starters.  Also there you will find corner DaMarcus Fields, who will play that spot in passing downs.

But the noteworthy item here is Schooler already earning the start.  We all expected the nation’s second-leading active career tackler to be a factor but he’s opened some eyes by climbing to the top of the depth chart in just two weeks on campus.

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