Tom Landry Award Winner. Congrats to Jett Duffey, 2016 quarterback commit, who was the winner of the Tom Landry Award last night. That’s Jett Duffey, in the red shirt and black tie, winning the Tom Landry Award last night:

Congrats Mansfield Lake Ridge QB & Texas Tech commit @Jett8Duffey – 2015 Tom Landry Award winner pic.twitter.com/CA5Ik50KAt

— Bill Jones (@CBS11BillJones) December 15, 2015

Slay Graduates. LAJ’s Don Williams catches up with former Red Raider footballer Dwayne Slay, who finally received his degree after 10 years leaving Texas Tech.:

Hitting opponents was one thing, but Slay’s more pleased by how he hit the books. He earned a degree Saturday at Tech’s fall commencement.

“More than being all-Big 12, all-America, all that, walking across that stage is a big moment for me,” he said, “and, to me, the most memorable moment of my Texas Tech career.”

In fall 2013, out of football but wanting to coach, Slay returned to Tech classrooms to pursue the 50-plus credit hours he needed to complete an undergraduate degree in human sciences.

Season in Review. ESPN’s Max Olson recaps Texas Tech’s 2015 season. Lots to read there, but here’s the forecast for 2016:

2016 outlook: Onward and upward. There’s definitely some reloading to do on offense — most notably on the offensive line after Le’Raven Clark, Jared Kaster and two more seniors graduate — and young backs Justin Stockton and Corey Dauphine will try to replace All-Big 12 rusher DeAndre Washington. There’s also a lot more growing to be done on defense. The puzzle on D is still missing a few pieces, but defensive coordinator David Gibbs is making progress. If 2015 was about getting back on track, 2016 is about making a statement. The Red Raiders get a great chance to do so on Sept. 10 at Arizona State before heading into a relatively backloaded Big 12 slate.

Five Things. DMN’s Michael DuPont has five things to know about LSU (as an aside, I was going to table my normal game preview stuff until next week) and writes about third downs:

5. Third down will be the key.
The Tigers possess one of the best third down defenses in the country. LSU ranks in the top 25 among FBS programs for defensive third down conversion percentage while Texas Tech is one of the best at keeping the chains moving on third down – leading the nation with a third down conversion percentage over 51 percent.
If the Red Raiders can keep the chains moving on third down and keep their offense on the field it will help their defense by keeping Fournette and the Tigers’ offense on the sideline.

LSU Focuses on LSU. Via the Advocate, the LSU Tigers are focusing on the LSU Tigers for theri first day of practice:

“Some Texas Tech, but mostly improving our team,” Miles said of his team’s practice during a news conference Monday night. “…We throw the ball at practice all the time, but we want specifically to have a greater, efficient passing game. More completions, more yards, more.

“I think we got a nice start to the game plan, and I think (offensive coordinator Cam Cameron) has got us heading in the right direction.”

Miscellaneous. Land Grant Gauntlet’s Grant Thome has the watchability index for the Big 12 games . . . LAJ’s Don Williams writes that there are 80 tickets for Texas Tech remaining . . . ESPN’s Max Olson has ESPN’s weekly recruiting card which helps you keep up on the coming and goings of the recruits in the Big 12 . . . you should check out our friends Michael Labarre and Carlos Silva at RedRaiders for their weekly recruiting video. It’s impossible to find a link, but it is the second video in line . . .