Texas Tech football: What we think we know about Red Raiders after Spring football

Now that the Texas Tech football program has put the 2023 Spring practice schedule in the past, it is now time to turn our attention to the slog that is the summer months as we grind away through the heat and bide our time until the first weekend of September rolls around.

Before we venture too far away from what transpired during Tech’s 15 practices during March and April though, let’s take stock of where this roster sits headed into what is normally a quiet period on the calendar.  Here’s what we think we know about the Red Raiders after Spring football.

Newcomers will be asked to fill some big shoes

It’s nothing new to suggest that any college football program will have to fill major holes in the roster from year to year.  That’s just the reality of modern college athletics where players change schools almost as often as they change socks.

However, the player movement trend, as unpopular as it may be among many fans, gives as much as it takes and this year, the Red Raiders will be leaning heavily on some new faces to immediately step in and make serious contributions.

For instance, Syracuse transfer Steve Linton will be asked to be a major factor in the pass rush department.  A 6-foot-5 outside linebacker who has bulked up to 235 pounds after playing at around 220 last season, the Georgia native has two years of eligibility remaining thanks to a redshirt season and the 2020 COVID-19 freebie.

Last season, he was credited with 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 11 games but much more is expected of him this fall, especially with 2022 defensive terror Tyree Wilson now in the NFL.  So far, there have been nothing but rave reviews about Linton from people inside the program and the assumption is that his ability to create chaos off the edge will be a foundational piece of this season’s defense.

Also on defense, look for defensive back C.J. Baskerville to be an important addition.  With the graduation of 2022 safety Marquis Waters and the transfer of part-time 2022 starter Reggie Pearson to Oklahoma, the San Diego State transfer is going to have to play some meaningful snaps for Tech come September.

As a sophomore last fall, the native Texan was credited with 36 tackles in eight games.  Look for him to be the primary replacement for Waters at the “Star” position, a roving role where defensive coordinator Tim DeRyuter likes to deploy a player who can support the run defense while also being a blitzer at times and while also being asked to play coverage.  In other words, this is a great opportunity for Baskerville to make a huge mark in Lubbock right away.

On the other side of the ball, lightning-fast wide receiver Drae McCray will need to bring some much-needed juice to the attack.  A transfer from Austin Peay who arrives with over 1,800 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns in two FCS seasons, the 5-foot-9 dynamo was highly coveted in the portal and his presence for the Red Raiders could make the offense far more dynamic than it was in 2022.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of new starting center Rusty Staats.  A super-senior who arrives from Western Kentucky where he played for Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley in 2021 is highly-regarded and should help stabilize the middle of the offensive line, a position group that was suspect at times last fall.  With 27 starts under his belt and back-to-back honorable-mention all-conference honors in the last two seasons to boot, Staats has the responsibility of anchoring a rebuilt o-line in Lubbock, and his success will be paramount.

So while the Red Raiders are bringing back the vast majority of their first-teamers on both sides of the ball, don’t overlook the role that these newcomers will be asked to play.  Of course, in the era of the portal, this is going to be a yearly occurrence.