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Texas Tech football: 5 questions to be answered on Saturday night vs. Houston

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during a timeout huddle during the second half of the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during a timeout huddle during the second half of the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 23, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – OCTOBER 03: Wide receiver Loic Fouonji #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs over the top of linebacker Cody Fletcher #55 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 3, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – OCTOBER 03: Wide receiver Loic Fouonji #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs over the top of linebacker Cody Fletcher #55 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 3, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

Who is going to make plays on offense other than Erik Ezukanma?

We head into the 2021 season knowing that the Texas Tech football team will have one of the nation’s best receivers in Erik Ezukanma.  But is there anyone else on this offense ready to be a consistent play-maker?

With the iffy status of running back SaRodorick Thompson, who is a game-time decision for week one due to offseason shoulder surgery, this offense could be down a huge weapon against the Cougars and that leaves us wondering who will be Tech’s second play-maker in this contest.

It would be no shock to see Houston double-team Ezukanma thus putting the onus on a group of unproven and inexperienced receivers to step up.  But of the rest of Tech’s receiving corp on the outside, only Troy transfer Kaylon Geiger has multiple years of experience as a starter and of course, his experience has not come with the Red Raiders.

So it is worth asking who will step up and make plays in the passing game on Saturday.  Both in the slot and on the outside, Tech is going to have to have players other than Ezukanma prove capable of threatening the Houston defense down the field, or else the offense might have problems moving the ball.

Fortunately, we feel better about the running back position behind Thompson.  The three other backs listed on the depth chart ran for over a combined 700 yards and seven TDs in 2020 and at times, both Xavier White and Tahj Brooks looked the part of a feature running back.

White had two 100-yard games in 2020 and went for 98 against Oklahoma State.  In each of those three showings, he ran for at least 9.4 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, as a true freshman, Brooks was given double-digit carries on four occasions a season ago.  Now, many people believe that the solidly-built sophomore is ready to take a step forward and be an even bigger part of the attack.

But still, we don’t know for sure that this offense has any play-makers other than Ezukanma and Thompson.  And if the latter of those two is unable to play on Saturday, we will be counting on someone else to step up and give this Red Raider offense some punch.  Who might that be?

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