With Texas Tech having hired former Texas State offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich to be the Red Raiders' new O.C., it is only natural to wonder if any Texas State players who enter the portal might be destined for Lubbock. One Bobcat to watch is running back Ismail Mahdi who is now exploring his options.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder will be a senior in 2025. And he could be a nice stopgap option for a Texas Tech team that is saying goodbye to star running back Tahj Brooks this season.
Of course, Brooks and Mahdi are vastly different players. While the 230-pound Brooks is able to break tackles in tight spaces, he's not a threat to go 50 or more yards to the endzone with much regularity. Mahdi, though, has averaged 5.7 yards per carry during his two years in San Marcos and as a Bobcat he has broken off runs of 65, 56, 46, and 45 yards.
Though Mahdi and Brooks don't have similar running styles, they do have one thing in common; both are extremely productive. Texas Tech fans know about Brooks' ability to fill up the stat sheet but they are likely unaware of what Mahdi has done at Texas State.
Thank you bobcat nation! pic.twitter.com/0mJlu4TWeZ
— ismail mahdi (@ismailmahdi_6) December 9, 2024
In 2023, he led the nation in all-purpose yards by rushing for 1,331 yards, receiving for 275 yards, and returning kickoffs for 563 yards. This year, he wasn't quite as productive but he did run for 991 yards and catch 207 yards worth of passes while returning nine kickoffs for 197 yards.
It is fair to wonder if such a small back can withstand the rigors of playing in the Big 12, though. However, in each of the past two seasons, Madhi has faced a Big 12 opponent and represented himself well.
In 2023 he ran for 83 yards and a touchdown on just six carries while catching one pass for ten yards against Baylor. Then, this fall, he racked up 68 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards against eventual Big 12 champion Arizona State.
Next season, Tech might not need a transfer back to come in and try to replace Brooks by himself. After all, finding a player of that caliber in the portal will be extremely difficult and expensive.
What's more, 5-foot-11, 215-pound Cameron Dickey could be a short-yardage and between-the-tackles option as a sophomore to help do some of the dirty work that Brooks has been doing for Tech over the past several seasons. Tech also expects to have J'Koby Williams, a true freshman in 2024 (as was Dickey) to be a big-play threat in the backfield. He has run for 113 yards on 26 carries this season and has flashed some impressive burst in limited action while spelling Brooks from time to time.
Adding Madhi to that tandem might make sense for the Red Raiders. It would give the program a senior RB who is familiar with the system that Leftwich wants to implement and it would provide the offense with a dual-threat weapon at the running back spot.
So keep an eye on Ismail Mahdi because he could potentially be an option for the new Texas Tech offensive coordinator as he looks to put his stamp on the program and bring in players that can execute his scheme.