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Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that can help salvage 2023 season

By Matthew Conner

Texas Tech's wide receiver Jerand Bradley (9) scores a touchdown against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech's wide receiver Jerand Bradley (9) scores a touchdown against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /
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Sep 30, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) passes against Houston Cougars defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (93) and defensive end David Ugwoegbu (12) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton (2) passes against Houston Cougars defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell (93) and defensive end David Ugwoegbu (12) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Tech QB Behren Morton should be as healthy as he’s been since taking over

Obviously, Tech’s only hope of finishing strong is better play at the QB spot.  After seeing true freshman, Jake Strong, lead the offense for a game and a half, it is clear that he’s not ready to be the man given that he’s thrown six interceptions in the last six quarters of play.

Fortunately, redshirt sophomore Behren Morton is going to start against TCU after missing the second half of the Kansas State game and all of the BYU game.  But what’s more, Morton has actually been able to practice this week according to McGuire.

That’s important because he has not been throwing during the week since spraining the AC joint in his throwing shoulder way back on September 23 when he took over for the injured Tyler Shough in a loss at West Virginia.

Since then, Morton has been trying to tough it out and was able to lead Tech to wins over Houston and Baylor despite being noticeably limited.  Now, the question that won’t be answered until Thursday is, just how healthy is Morton?

It’s a shame that we haven’t ever seen a fully healthy Behren Morton for a complete game.  In his first-ever college start last year, he suffered an ankle injury late in the first half of a loss at Oklahoma State and though he would start the next three games, he would not be at 100% for the remainder of the year.

This year, he didn’t even play a full quarter of football before being injured against the Mountaineers and if Tech would have had a better option behind him than Strong, he might not have played against Houston or Baylor.  He did, though, and he was able to do just enough in those games to give Tech some punch in the passing game.

Now, he should be as healthy as he’s been since the WVU game given that he’ll have had nearly three weeks of rest since he last played.  If Morton can prove to be as good as many fans think he is, it could give this offense new life and it could be just what propels this team to a strong November finish.

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