In 2024, Texas Tech football fans got to witness what it’s like seeing a Red Raider quarterback throw for at least 3000 yards in a single season. And while this is something that is generally not super present in Texas Tech football history, it’s something that has been a trend since Mike Leach installed the Air Raid offense in Lubbock all the way back in 2000.
On 17 different occasions since 2000, the Red Raiders have had a quarterback (just one quarterback) throw for at least 3000 yards in a season (a single season). Kliff Kingsbury did this three times in back-to-back-to-back fashion. Same with Graham Harrell (also back-to-back-to-back fashion). Seth Doege did it twice! As did Patrick Mahomes. Same with Taylor Potts!
And there are a bunch of other names sprinkled throughout that also accomplished this feat. Shoutout to B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges and Nic Shimonek. But after Shimonek pulled this off back in 2017, there was a gap that spanned from the end of the Kliff Kingsbury era, through the Matt Wells era, and into the Joey McGuire era.
That gap got closed in 2024.
Texas Tech football history: Behren Morton brought back the trend of a 3000 yard passing season for Texas Tech quarterbacks in 2024
Thanks to Behren Morton, the Texas Tech Red Raiders had a quarterback throw for at least 3000 yards in a single season for the first time since 2017. That’s too long, if you ask me. Way too long. We need more Texas Tech quarterbacks throwing for more yards on a more regular basis.
Morton revived the trend though.
He managed to throw for a grand total of 3335 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions as he completed 295 of his 466 pass attempts. In the 12 games that he got to play this season, Morton had four games where he threw for 300 or more yards.
Now, ideally, you’d like to see a bit more from him this coming season, especially if he can stay fully healthy. It is worth noting that most of the offense didn’t run exclusively through him the way offenses tended to do with quarterbacks in Lubbock under Mike Leach. Still, you’d like for a bit more from a starting quarterback at Texas Tech.
And also still, it’s great to see a Red Raider quarterback throw for at least 3000 yards in a season. That is certainly a welcomed sight to see.