Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that might surprise in 2023

Jordan Brown has a big opportunity to earn playing time at wide receiver

Without question, the individual who impressed McGuire the most in the first scrimmage was junior wideout Jordan Brown.  In fact, the head coach referred to him in glowing terms on Monday.

"“Jordan Brown had a phenomenal day at receiver,” McGuire said.  “I think he had two, maybe three, touchdowns.  Him and (quarterback) Behren Morton hooked up.”"

Brown is a player that joined the team a season ago following two seasons at Kansas.  However, the DeSoto, Texas native didn’t make much of an impact last fall.

With only three receptions for 18 yards in eight games played, it is easy to see why Brown might not be a player most are expecting to be a huge factor in 2023.  However, it appears that he’s reshaped his body this offseason and now the 5-foot-11 outside receiver is better suited to compete in the Big 12.

"“If you saw him last year to this year,” McGuire said, “he’s 190 pounds, he was probably weighing 178 last year, maybe 180 on a good day. So he’s put on really good muscle and you can tell by the way he’s playing.  He’s really physical, and again, if you said probably the player of the day on offense it would have been Jordan Brown.”"

McGuire also shared that redshirt freshman wide receiver, Coy Eakin, has broken his collarbone and will miss the first several weeks of the season.  The Stephenville, Texas native was pushing for playing time on the outside prior to this injury and his absence will provide Brown with even more practice reps as well as an almost certain role on game day.

In fact, McGuire said that Brown has been alternating with 2022 starter Loic Fouonji when it comes to practicing with the starting offense.  But catching passes might not be the only way Brown impacts games this year.

Named by McGuire as one of the two players working as kickoff returners (along with Austin Peay transfer Drae McRay), Brown appears to be a special-teams weapon as well.  That’s where he made his biggest waves in his first year at Tech.

In fact, on seven kickoff returns, he averaged 24.4 yards per return.  That included a 67-yard return to open the Oklahoma game, the longest kick return of the season for the Red Raiders.

So when the Wyoming game arrives on September 2, don’t be surprised to see No. 4 making plays again.  But after years of that number belonging to workhorse running back, SaRodorick Thompson, it is now Brown’s.  What might be the same, though, is that we will see plenty of productivity out of that number again in 2023.  Even if many Red Raider fans may not be as familiar with the player wearing it this year as they were with his predecessor.