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Texas Tech football: 3 areas of concern for the 2022 Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

MANHATTAN, KS - OCTOBER 03: Place kicker Trey Wolff #36 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders attempts a field goal against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first 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: Place kicker Trey Wolff #36 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders attempts a field goal against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 3, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Linebacker Krishon Merriweather #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs to the sideline during the first half of the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Linebacker Krishon Merriweather #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs to the sideline during the first half of the college football game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

The linebacking corps

While the Red Raider offensive line features only two players with significant starting experience, the linebacking corps has just one player who has been a full-time starter over the past few seasons.  That’s why the linebackers are also a source of concern this fall.

Of course, the one returning starter is Krishon Merriweather, Tech’s middle linebacker.  Last year, his productivity dropped off a bit as his tackle total fell from 75 in 2020 to just 52 in 2021 despite playing in four more games.

On the other hand, Tech fans should expect Merriweather’s numbers to jump back up this fall given that he will almost never come off the field since 2021’s leading tackler, Colin Schooler, has now graduated.  Yet, what we get from the rest of the linebacking corps will be a mystery.

McGuire said Tuesday that senior Kosi Eldridge has won the starting linebacker job next to Merriweather.  In a bit of a surprise, the former JUCO transfer has beaten out Dimitri Moore, the transfer from Missouri State who was an SEC All-Freshman selection while playing for Vanderbilt in 2018.

Eldridge has been primarily a backup and special teamer during his Red Raider career.  In fact, he’s registered a mere 31 tackles in three seasons.

It will be interesting to see how this duo performs at the heart of the defense.  Can they both take their games to a new level or are we in for a dropoff at a position group where Tech has been extremely talented in recent years with the likes of Schooler, Riko Jeffers, Jordyn Brooks, and Dakota Allen playing huge roles?

Behind the starters is a group of players who are even more inexperienced.  Sophomore Jacob Rodriguez will get some run behind Merriweather despite being a recent linebacker convert after playing offense at Virginia last season.  True freshman Ty Kana should also find his way onto the field some this year.

What it all boils down to is the fact that the linebacking corp is as green as it has been for the last several seasons.  It will be up to Merriweather and Eldridge to step up and ensure that Tech’s LBs continue to give the program solid play in the middle of the defense but there’s reason to wonder if both are ready for that challenge.

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