I just have time for links this morning so buckle up.

+ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: Texas Tech football’s Joey McGuire updates status of Micah Hudson, other rehabbing players
“We’ll increase him [Micah Hudson] to three-quarters of the volume going into next week, and then next week he’ll be past six months (from the surgery). So we’ll start increasing him as we go so he’s good to go during camp. … He’ll be on the field the first day of camp.”
/snip/
Among others coming back from injury, tight end Jalin Conyers (broken foot) and defensive tackle James Hansen (calf strain) are medically cleared after missing spring practice. Deep snapper Jackson Knotts continues trending toward an early-season return.
+ Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: How much impact will Micah Hudson, Texas Tech football freshmen have in 2024?
Our Don Williams had Esquerra listed third on the depth chart at boundary safety coming out of spring practice behind C.J. Baskerville and Javeon Wilcox.
+ Dallas Morning News: Deion Sanders praises Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire, other coaches at Big 12 media days
“Joey has been the same consistent great coach that he’s always been. Joey, if you out there, I love you, I appreciate you. You keep on doing what you do,” Sanders said. “Except when we come to play you, I want you to keep on doing your thing. But I love you, man, I really do. And you’re doing a wonderful work down there at Texas Tech.”
+ Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Carter Yates: Most Important Texas Tech Quotes from Big 12 Media Days
McGuire lost two defensive tackles, Tony Bradford Jr. and Jaylon Hutchings, who played more snaps than anyone in the country. That was because when McGuire got to Lubbock in Year One, he only had three defensive tackles he was comfortable playing. This year, he says there are seven.
Emaurion Banks and Quincy Ledet Jr. are the favorites to start, but Rice transfer DE Braylon Carroll and former Nevada and Utah State tackle James Hansen should see playing time.
+ Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Mike Craven: Mahomes, adidas partnership could help Texas Tech separate from the Big 12 pack
And why not? Texas Tech spent over $200 million dollars on a south end zone expansion at Jones AT&T Stadium. The team signed a five-star recruit in 2023. The Matador Club is on the cutting edge of NIL. McGuire is the first coach since Sloan to finish with a winning record in conference play in each of his first two seasons. Maybe everything doesn’t run through Lubbock quite yet, but the support of Mahomes and alums like Cody Campbell should help the Red Raiders separate from the pack in the Big 12, according to the players in Las Vegas.
“As a program and a team, it speaks to what we’re doing at Texas Tech,” Rogers said. “Being at Texas Tech recently sounds like a fantasy. I think we have the best culture. We’re about to add the best facilities and the best uniforms in college football. We just put together the partnership in the country (with adidas and Mahomes).”
+ CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: Mike Gundy’s rambling defense of Ollie Gordon II backfires dramatically at Big 12 Media Days
+ CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: After a year of injury frustration, Kansas QB Jalon Daniels eyes Big 12 title, CFP appearance in 2024
+ CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd: Deion Sanders may be the Big 12’s top entertainer, but Year 2 at Colorado will test his coaching chops
+ CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: Big 12 Media Days: Brett Yormark touts unique approach to revenue amid ‘necessary reset’ for college sports
+ ESPN’s Bill Connelly($): Big 12 2024 preview: Breaking down Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma State and other contenders
In Year 1 under Joey McGuire, Texas Tech won eight games by throwing for 4,000 yards, averaging the most plays per game in the country and forcing just enough passing downs on defense to get by. In Year 2, despite a much less consistent passing game, the Red Raiders won seven by leaning on a workhorse running back, preventing big plays and forcing field goals in the red zone. They began the season a disappointing 3-5 but won four of five down the stretch.
On one hand, McGuire’s Tech is clearly a resourceful bunch and has been good at just about everything at least once in two years. On the other hand, it will be interesting to see if a reliable identity takes shape moving forward. The Red Raiders are right in the middle of the national pack from a returning production standpoint, so you can easily find reasons for optimism or pessimism. Quarterback Behren Morton battled a right shoulder injury in the spring and will have both a brand-new receiving corps and a brand-new line; the former is replacing its top three targets but brings in Washington State’s Josh Kelly and Florida’s Caleb Douglas, among others; the latter replaces six of last year’s top eight but reeled in starters from three Group of 5 programs, including all-conference guards Davion Carter (Memphis) and Vinny Sciury (Toledo). That’s a lot of new blood, but the new guys are relatively proven, and besides, this is running back Tahj Brooks’ offense. He rushed 290 times for 1,541 yards and 10 scores, doing some epic work after contact (3.3 yards per carry after contact).
On defense, veteran coordinator Tim DeRuyter returns sturdy veterans in safety C.J. Baskerville (10 passes defended and almost no missed tackles) and corner Bralyn Lux (nine passes defended, 3.5 TFLs and a paltry 25.3 QBR allowed), plus a sophomore star in linebacker Ben Roberts and a number of solid edge rushers. But the top two tackles are gone, as are eight of last year’s top 14 players from a snap counts perspective.
McGuire didn’t go crazy in the transfer portal, but he did still bring in a pair of defensive tackles (Rice tackle De’Braylon Carroll could be a keeper) and might need either smaller-school transfers or youngsters to provide depth sooner than later.