Just under a month until the Texas Tech football program opens spring football, these position groups are in flux and must be sorted out.
Texas Tech football fans found out this week that the Red Raiders will begin spring football on March 15. Typically, that news is nothing but a mere footnote in the yearly football calendar.
But in 2021, the spring period could arguably be the most important time period on the calendar outside of what happens from September through November. That’s because Matt Wells and Co. have tons to sort out over the course of the 15 practice sessions that constitute spring ball.
Of course, we all know that the Red Raiders have to find a quarterback. That’s the most important task of this offseason.
With 2020 starter Alan Bowman in the transfer portal and his backup Henry Colombi not able to secure the job when he had his opportunity to start in the middle of last season, Tech is in a rather precarious position…relying on freshmen.
Being as Wells has not added another QB option via the transfer portal, this spring becomes all about redshirt freshman Donovan Smith and true freshman Behren Morton. And though both have considerable physical tools, they also come with their share of question marks.
Smith missed all of last year with shoulder surgery and has yet to take a snap in a college game. What’s more, he has only been a QB for two years of his football career as he played the position for only his senior year of high school after being a wide receive prior to transferring to Frienship H.S. in Wolfforth.
As for Morton, aside from the natural learning curve that comes with being a first-year collegiate, there are questions about the level of competition he faced in high school and whether that prepared him to be a walk-in starter in the Big 12. Playing at 3-A Eastland, Morton was typically the only college prospect on the field each Friday night so one has to wonder what the jump in competition will be like for the 4-star signee this spring.
Though Colombi has to enter the spring with a leg up on these two freshmen, all three (and sophomore Maverick McIvor) enter this year on as equal of footing as there could be in a college QB battle given the arrival of offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie and his version of the “Air Raid” offense.
But the QB position isn’t the only group on the roster that is in flux. Let’s take a look at three other positions that Tech must sort out in spring football if 2021 is going to be a step forward for the program.