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Texas Tech football: 3 predictions for the Red Raider running backs

By Matthew Conner

Oct 29, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) rushes against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) rushes against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Cam’Ron Valdez #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders rushes ahead of AJ Finley #21 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 28: Cam’Ron Valdez #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders rushes ahead of AJ Finley #21 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at NRG Stadium on December 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech will get at least five huge runs from Cam’Ron Valdez

Filling the RB2 spot this season will be Cam’Ron Valdez.  A former high-profile recruit in the class of 2021 (he was the No. 32 RB in the nation that year), he’s been stuck behind Brooks and Thompson on the depth chart thus far so many might not know what he can bring to the table.

Those unfamiliar with Valdez’s game will enjoy the big-play ability he has.  Though his top-end speed is nothing all that jaw-dropping, he gets to full speed in only a few strides allowing him to hit the crease and get to the second or third level of the defense in a hurry.

That ability will allow him to have at least five runs of 20 yards or more this year with at least two of them going for 40 or more.  That would be noteworthy because Tech had no player break off a run of more than 38 yards in 2022.

Valdez is a decisive runner.  He doesn’t look to dance around like some running backs do as they try to make people miss.  Rather, he finds a seam in the defense and he goes for it.  In that sense, he may remind some of former Texas Tech running back Justin Stockton.

Though Valdez isn’t as fast on the top end as Stockton, both are the type of backs to look to make one cut and slice through the defense at full speed.  And as Tech did with Stockton, it would be wise for Kittler to try to get the ball to Valdez on the edge of the defense or in space with screen passes allowing each to get to the second level with fewer impediments.

It is time for Valdez to live up to his billing as a top RB recruit.  With offers from the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Nebraska, Ole Miss, TCU, Utah, and West Virginia, he had plenty of options coming out of Rockdale, Texas.

It’s interesting that he has been patient enough to wait two full years to get a shot at being part of the Red Raider attack instead of deciding to transfer like many players in a similar situation would have.  Now that his time has arrived, he will bring a big-play component to the offense that was lacking last year and he might become a fan-favorite in the process.

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