Joey McGuire began to turn around the fortunes of the Texas Tech football team in his first two years as head coach, leading the Red Raiders to 8-5 and 7-6 records over the last two seasons and finishing each with a bowl victory. .
The Red Raiders finished with a Big 12 winning record in both seasons, and the last head coach to do so more than two years in a row was Spike Dykes, every year from 1991 to 1997.
This season, McGuire will tackle another proving ground for any coach early in his tenure: what he can do with from him list; that is, the group he assembled as opposed to the one he inherited?
Just 16 players from the current roster were on the team in November 2021 when Tech signed McGuire from Baylor. Among them are 10 two-deep players, including starters Behren Morton, Tahj Brooks, Caleb Rogers, Mason Tharp and Jackson Knotts.
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“That is, whether it’s through the transfer portal or through high school recruiting, this is our list,” McGuire told reporters Tuesday at a local media day before camp, “and we’re excited.”
Tech begins preseason practices Wednesday morning and opens the season with an Aug. 31 home game against Abilene Christian.
Texas Tech football buzz surrounds new stadium building and adjacent facilities
There is extra anticipation for this season because the Red Raiders will debut Jones AT&T Stadium’s new south end building the night of the first game and will open the new Dustin R. Womble Football Center in late September or October. Technical trainers moved into their south end offices last week, and the anticipated substantial completion date for Womble Football Center is September 21st.
These two buildings, along with a new visitor locker room in the northeast corner of the stadium, are features of a two-year, $242 million project.
Technology and its donors did not provide this level of support expecting mediocrity on the field. The few who passed by the building were impressed.
“They’re just amazed,” McGuire said. “Our first meeting will be at the (club) field in the south zone. I can’t wait for them to get there and see everything, because it just ups the ante.
“(Outside linebackers coach) CJ Ah You say this all the time: Pressure is a privilege. Whenever you have something like this, there’s a really good pressure being put on you to get better. I can’t wait for them to see that, and I can’t wait for our fans to see it.”
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Offensive line, skill positions, defensive backfield, key areas for Texas Tech football
Last year, the Big 12 media picked Tech fourth out of a 14-team Big 12, and the Red Raiders fell short of expectations. This year, they were picked ninth in a 16-team conference by Big 12 media and eighth in the USA TODAY Sports Network poll, but the expectation level internally is as high or higher than last season.
Among the units being targeted are an offensive line that returns just one starter and a secondary that has just two starters at five positions. The line, amended by the additions from the NCAA transfer portal of Sterling Porcher at left tackle and Vinny Sciury at left guard, both seniors, still has good experience.
The secondary, however, has six sophomores and freshmen at the 10 double-deep positions, including projected starters Chapman Lewis at free safety and Maurion Horn at cornerback.
“It’s there,” McGuire said of the talent and ability on the offensive line. “I felt really comfortable coming out of the spring. But if you’re talking about our first two years, the O-line has to take a leap.
“And then, just because of the youth in high school, there are some guys who really need to grow up.”
The receiving corps also underwent a major overhaul. Gone are three of the team’s top four in receptions and yards from last season. But from the transfer portal, the Red Raiders poached wide receivers Josh Kelly from Washington State and Caleb Douglas from Florida and tight ends Jalin Conyers from Arizona State and Johncarlos Miller from Elon. Technical coaches expect a lot from all of them.
They are also counting on the immediate impact of first-year signee Micah Hudson and jumps in production from sophomore Coy Eakin and sophomore transfer Drae McCray.
“In order for us to play meaningful games in November,” McGuire said, “our offensive skill set — (where) we feel like we’ve made a huge upgrade — has to be who they’re supposed to be. Josh Kelly has to be Josh Kelly. Caleb Douglas has to be a home run hitter. Coy Eakin has to do what he does.
“And then adding the tight ends. When you get to August 31st and see us play, the most dramatic part of this team will be the offensive ability.”
This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Why 2024 is revealing the season for Texas Tech football under Joey McGuire
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