New Wreck’Em 24/7 Writer. Hey y’all, go ahead and follow the new lead writer for Wreck’Em 24/7, Carlos Silva Jr. (@cmsilvajr.

Galvanizing Texas Tech. ESPN’s Jake Trotter writes that QB Patrick Mahomes has galvanized the team, specifically for the way that he blocked for RB DeAndre Washington, and generally for the way that he plays. Here’s Washington:

“We definitely feel confident with No. 5 as our QB,” Washington said of Mahomes, who was not available for interviews this week. “The way he’s played, it’s trickled down, not only to the offense but the whole team. Seeing him making special plays, the team feeds off his energy. That has carried us these first (three) games.”

Davis Rises. LAJ’s Don Williams writes about WR Reginald Davis’ improvement as a player this year and wide receiver’s coach Darrin Chiaverini said that he’s done a great job this year:

“He did a great job blocking, and his attitude was really good and confident,” Chiaverini said. “That’s what I tell him. I say, ‘Look man, you’re a really good football player when you play with confidence. You’ve got to have a short memory. If something bad happens, one snap and clear and get back to having mental toughness.’

“He’s done that.”

Kingsbury Beat a Nobody. Game On. The Student Section’s Matt Zemek writes that last week, Texas Tech and Kliff Kingsbury beat a nobody and now the real fun begins:

Being human, it is therefore natural for Kingsbury to feel better about himself and his program. It would be easy for Kingsbury to believe that his program has accomplished something.

However, entering this next Saturday, Kingsbury needs to get his own mind and his own team in a very different psychological setting. The Red Raiders might have gleefully and inwardly snickered at Bielema’s pathetic behavior. They might have reveled in the realization of how much Kingsbury got inside BERT’s head. Yet, as good as any of that felt — and still feels — Texas Tech has to turn the page in a hurry.

Can Texas Tech Beat TCU? Bleacher Report’s Ben Kercheval wonders if Texas Tech and Kliff Kingsbury can shock the college football world and beat TCU:

What does this mean for the TCU game? The Horned Frogs may be breaking in several new defensive starters, but let’s not forget about the man on the visitor’s sideline: head coach Gary Patterson. Patterson is as bright of a defensive mind as you’re going to find in college football. If anyone can set Texas Tech back in the turnovers department, it’s him.

For Tech, maintaining success on limiting penalties, turnovers and negative plays in general is key. They’re drive-killers, and if Tech has a lead, they will allow TCU to hang around.

Best Newcomer, David Gibbs? FWST’s Jimmy Burch writes that Texas Tech defensive coordinator David Gibbs may be the most important newcomer this year:

Tech has outscored its opponents 41-3 in the third quarter this season. The Raiders allowed only a second-half field goal in last week’s 35-24 upset of Arkansas. Although he dismissed his team’s third-quarter success as a matter of “luck,” Gibbs said the spike in turnovers is directly related to drills done on a daily basis to create more takeaways.

“The kids have done a good job, but that doesn’t surprise me,” Gibbs said. “They do it in practice. I thought they did a nice job trying to rip and punch and do all the things you have to do to create fumbles. The truth is all three of the teams we played are very disciplined football teams. So to come away with eight is pretty good.”

Miscellaneous. Land Grant Gauntlet’s Matt Turney has this week’s Big 12 quarterback rankings and LGG’s Jake Anderson has this week’s Big 12 power rankings . . . Campus Insiders’ Pete Fiutak previews and picks the Texas Tech and TCU game . . . DMN’s Michael DuPont has his five things to know about TCU . . . CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd writes that the Big 12 may pass a rule requiring schools to vet freshmen for misconduct before enrolling . . . FWST’s Jimmy Burch has his weekly Big 12 picks . . . via The Gazzette, Texas Tech commit Derrick Willies has already caught 23 passes for 599 yards and 6 touchdowns for Trinity Valley C.C. . . .

Non-Football News

• Texas Tech and Tubby Smith have signed Roka Ulvydas, a 6-11 power forward from Kaunas Lithuania who played in Maryland last year. Ulvydas will have to sit out the 2015-16 season as a resident before being eligible and will be ready to play as a redshirt sophomore in the 2016-17 season. Texas Tech needed another big man, but maybe for this year. This may be a fairly thin frontcourt this year, but it’s good to get a guy that’s 6-11 and has some offensive skills.
• The Texas Tech volleyball team beat Oklahoma last night and this was the first win since 2005 over Oklahoma and the first time that this program has won the opening conference game in two years in a row since 1997-1998. Don Flora has the toughest coaching job on campus, having to build this program up after being at the absolute bottom of the run. The improvements are small each year, but it feels like he’s making improvements. Congrats to those ladies and coaching staff! The emotions run high.