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Texas Tech football: Four scenarios that could derail the 2021 season

By Matthew Conner

Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2019; Tucson, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Matt Wells looks on before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oregon Ducks quarterback Tyler Shough (12) passes while being pressured by UCLA Bruins defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight (24) during the third quarter of the Pac12 Conference game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on November, 21, 2020.Eug Oregon Ucla Football 12
Oregon Ducks quarterback Tyler Shough (12) passes while being pressured by UCLA Bruins defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight (24) during the third quarter of the Pac12 Conference game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on November, 21, 2020.Eug Oregon Ucla Football 12 /

An injury to Tyler Shough

As previously mentioned, QB injuries have for far too long been one of the defining storylines of Texas Tech football.  After all, season-ending injuries in 2018 and 2019 seemed to ruin the confidence and moxie of Alan Bowan so that even when he returned to the field last fall, he was just a shell of the player that he was as a true freshman.

But Bowman wasn’t the only Tech QB to have injury woes in recent years.  Think back to 2018, Kingsbury’s final year.

McLane Carter was supposed to be QB1 but in the first game of the season, a first-quarter high ankle sprain took him out of action until the season’s final game.  That opened the door for Bowman who lasted only three games until his first of two collapsed lung injuries was sustained.  Then, third-string QB Jet Duffey was hobbled with a knee injury that he tried to play through in the second-to-last game of the year.  That injury forced him to miss the season finale and put Carter back in the starting role one last time.  That QB injury carousel added up to a 5-7 record and resulted in Kingsbury’s firing.

But a QB injury also prevented Leach’s final season from being rather special. Remember that the Tech offense was sputtering against New Mexico in the season’s fifth game.

On the heels of back-to-back losses and facing an unexpected challenge from the lowly Lobos, the Red Raiders turned to backup QB Steven Sheffield who lit the stadium on fire propelling his team to a 48-28 win that week before wins over Kansas State and Nebraska the next two weeks.

But at the end of that Nebraska game, Sheffield was lost with an ankle sprain of his own and that forced Potts back into action, some say before he was fully ready to return.  The result was that Tech would drop two of the next three games on the way to what would become a nice but not spectacular 8-4 regular season.

Imagine what Tech will be in for should starting QB Tyler Shough go down this year.  Sure, his backup, Henry Colombi, is a gamer.  But we saw last season that he’s not ready to carry a team for multiple games which is why he eventually lost the QB1 job back to Bowman to end the season.

If Colombi isn’t the answer, and Shough is unavailable, Tech would have to turn to either redshirt freshman Donovan Smith or true freshman Behren Morton.  While both of those players are dripping with talent, neither has taken a snap in a college game so the thought of having to rely on them for several games in 2021 should scare even the most optimistic of fans.

So keep your fingers crossed that Tyler Shough can remain upright for 12 (and hopefully 13) games this year.  If that doesn’t happen, it could spoil any plans the Red Raiders have for a bounceback season.

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