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

Freshman Anquan Willis will be a surprise contributor for Texas Tech

One of the reasons many people are so high on this year’s Texas Tech football team is the overall age of the roster.  Indeed there are experienced and proven players at nearly every position on the depth chart meaning that the 2023 freshman class won’t be asked to do too much heavy lifting.

However, running back Anquan Willis has turned some heads in fall camp and he will get a shot at earning some meaningful snaps this fall.  In fact, he could wind up being the most impactful freshman on the team.

247Sports rated the Wichita Falls native a 4-star prospect but because he was listed as an “athlete” and not a running back, his recruitment might have been a bit under the radar of most Red Raider fans.  Also making his recruitment rather quiet was that he was an early Texas Tech lean and as such, his only other offers were from TCU, SMU, and Tulsa.  Also, an injury during his senior year prevented him from putting up eye-popping numbers thus making him a less-heralded recruit than he might have otherwise been.

What you have to like about Willis is his build.  Already 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, he’s plenty big enough to compete at the Big 12 level.  He’s also athletic enough to be more than just a power back.

The third RB job is wide open right now.  We might even see inside receiver and former RB Xavier White earn some carries this year behind Brooks and Valdez.

However, Willis will be the guy who ultimately takes over that job.  What’s more, by the end of the year, we could be looking at him as a future star for the Red Raiders.