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Texas Tech football: Storylines to monitor in the season opener

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 20: Alan Bowman #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders calls signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on October 20, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Safety Eric Monroe #11 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to the game against Georgia Southern Eagles at Tiger Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)
Safety Eric Monroe #11 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to the game against Georgia Southern Eagles at Tiger Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images) /

How will the newcomers mesh with the rest of the team?

Matt Wells has doubled-down on the transfer market.  In fact, he’s essentially pushed all of his chips to the middle of the table and bet on a host of transfers to help turn his program around, especially on defense.

It will be worth watching on Saturday to see how those new additions mesh with the rest of the team.  Keep in mind that they will all be executing a new scheme for the first time which could lead to a few mistakes and a lack of cohesion.

Safety Eric Monroe from LSU will be starting for the first time in his collegiate career.  LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle will be returning form injury as well as playing his first game for DC Keith Patterson.

Duke transfer LB Jacob Morgenstern has been nothing but a special teams contributor in his career thus far but he will be getting plenty of snaps at the “spur” position on Saturday night.

Also, a pair of JUCO transfers will be getting their first taste of big-time college football.  Linebacker Krishon Merriweather has earned the starting middle linebacker job and his success will be one of the keys to the entire season.  Last year, he led the JUCO ranks in tackles on his way to earning All-American honors.  Now, it is time to find out if that success will translate to the highest level of the sport.

Likewise, DE Devin Drew was a JUCO All-American last year when he had 58 tackles and 9.5 sacks.  It will be worth watching to see if he can have an instant impact on the Red Raider defensive line.

On offense, Tech fans will be excited to see Alabama grad transfer Chadarius Townsend line up in the backfield.  Finally finding a home at RB after playing there as well as at receiver and even corner for the Crimson Tide, the former 4-star signee is expected to bring some explosiveness to the Red Raider offense this year.

There’s no denying that Wells needs the majority of these transfers to hit right away.  He’s built his roster around them and he can’t afford for too many to be busts, especially on defense.  So keep an eye on these newcomers on Saturday because they are all critical to what Tech plans to do this fall.

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