Texas Tech football: Five newcomers that could have a big impact this fall

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Sep 18, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Donell Harris Jr. (18) and New Mexico Lobos offensive lineman Cade Briggs (73) in action during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the New Mexico Lobos at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Center Cade Briggs has some big shoes to fill

While Spencer will be a one-and-done Red Raider, New Mexico transfer, Cade Briggs, will have two years of eligibility left when 2022 begins and the Red Raiders hope he can lock down the starting center position. But he has some huge shoes to fill by stepping in for three-year starter Dawson Deaton, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft.

What is somewhat concerning about turning the center position over to Briggs is that he was a tackle at New Mexico where he started 24 games, primarily on the left side (but also at right guard as a freshman). Thus, he’ll be moving to the most mentally demanding position on the line with no experience there and he’ll be asked to step into a key role after also missing spring practices due to an injury.

A former high school teammate of current Red Raider QB Donovan Smith when the two played together in Las Vegas, Nevada, Briggs could be the most important transfer this program has brought into the mix this offseason.

At 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, he’ll have to anchor everything that Kittley and the Tech offense want to do. He’ll not only have to perform once the ball is snapped but he’ll have to make the correct line calls to get himself and the rest of the line in the right blocking scheme prior to the snap. Is that a task he’s ready to take on? He seems confident when talking about it.

"“I would say my football IQ is off-the-charts and I can see things coming before they actually come,” he told Ben Golan of RedRaiderSports.com. “I think just that toughness, that grit. As you can tell from my film, I’m just trying to bury people every play and that’s just the way I grew up and the way my dad raised us. Those are my strengths.”"

Tech has to hope that Briggs is able to adapt to his new home and handle life as a center in the suddenly defensively-oriented Big 12. That’s because he will be the man around whom the offensive line revolves and that’s a position where the Red Raiders have to be solid if they hope to compete this season.

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