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Texas Tech football: Three bold 2023 predictions for the Red Raider QBs

By Matthew Conner

Texas Tech's quarterback Tyler Shough (12) warms up on the sideline during the game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech's quarterback Tyler Shough (12) warms up on the sideline during the game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /
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Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Tyler Shough (12) smiles on the field after the Red Raiders defeated the Mississippi Rebels in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Tyler Shough (12) smiles on the field after the Red Raiders defeated the Mississippi Rebels in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Tyler Shough will give Texas Tech over 4,000 yards of total offense

His recent injury history suggests that I shouldn’t, but I’m buying into the notion that 2023 will be the season that Tyler Shough finally gets to showcase what can do over the course of 13 (or hopefully more) games by staying healthy.  Therefore, I think the super senior will have a massive year with over 4,000 yards of total offense.

There was a time in program history when the Red Raiders got 4,000 yards passing alone from their QB on an annual basis.  From 2002 (with Kliff Kingsbury at QB) to 2008 (Graham Harrell’s senior season), every Tech QB passed the 4,000-yard mark through the air.

However, the last time a Texas Tech QB accomplished the task of putting up 4,000 yards of total offense was in 2016 when Pat Mahomes set the NCAA on fire with over 5,300 yards passing and rushing combined.

While Shough isn’t going to be as dynamic as Mahomes was as a Red Raider, he is going to have a standout year.  He is finally playing in the same offensive system for consecutive years for the first time in his lengthy NCAA career and that will do wonders for him.

What’s more, offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is one of the brightest minds in the game and he will design a scheme that will get the most out of Shough.  Remember, Kittley has a reputation for being quite the QB whisperer given his time working with Mahomes as a graduate assistant at Tech and his mentoring of current New England Patriots backup QB Bailey Zappe when the two worked together at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky when Kittley was OC of those programs.

Also, Shough will have a better supporting cast this year.  His offensive line should be improved dramatically and his receiving corps returns every key member from last year while adding speedster Drae McRay to give Tech a big-play threat.

It will be interesting to see if Shough is asked to run the ball as much this year, though.  Last season he had 72 carries for 269 yards and four TDs as late in the season, his legs became an integral component of the Red Raider attack.

Will a more efficient offense in 2023 ask the same of Shough or will Kittley be more selective when it comes to exposing his QB to extra contact?  Either way, look for Shough to have a big season and finally give the Red Raiders over 4,000 yards of total offense from the QB spot.

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