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Texas Tech football: 5 reasons many are optimistic about 2021

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 05: Krishon Merriweather #1, Michael Nelson #39, Colin Schooler #17 and Christian LaValle #45 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the college football game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 05: Krishon Merriweather #1, Michael Nelson #39, Colin Schooler #17 and Christian LaValle #45 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders take the field before the college football game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Nov 9, 2019; Durham, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jahmir Smith (34) is stopped by Duke Blue Devils safety Marquis Waters (10) during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2019; Durham, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jahmir Smith (34) is stopped by Duke Blue Devils safety Marquis Waters (10) during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Transfers

Matt Wells is 100% committed to the idea of building his roster through the transfer portal.  After all, he’s yet to secure a commitment from a high school player in the class of 2022 but he has added seven transfers to the roster since the end of last year.

Thus, the transfers are going to be a huge part of telling the story of the 2021 season.  That’s because all of the new faces Wells has added are expected to be key contributors.

We’ve already discussed Shough and T.J. Storment.  But let’s take a look at how the Red Raider secondary could be impacted by this year’s wave of transfers.

So far, Tech has added safeties Reggie Pearson Jr. and Marquis Waters as well as corners Malik Dunlap and Rayshad Williams, two 6-foot-3 pass defenders who figure to find their way into Tech’s two-deep.  That will help to strengthen a secondary that lost starting safety Thomas Leggett and All-Big 12 corner Zech McPhearson, the latter of whom was a 4th round NFL Draft pick last month.

There’s reason to be concerned over Wells’ transfer-heavy strategy.  It’s a new philosophy for the program for sure and it doesn’t bring as many long-term solutions as the high school ranks can supply.

But on the other hand, Tech has had an opportunity to scout these transfers as collegiates and they can be more certain of what these players bring to the table.  Whereas, for high school signees, each is a wild card regardless of highly ranked he may be when he first steps onto campus.

Thus, relying on transfers in a make-or-break year might be wiser than trying to develop young players.  And it is a reason to think that Tech will be better off in the short term.  Whether that strategy is sustainable in the long term is yet to be seen.

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