Texas Tech Football Notebook: McGuire Talks Depth

I only had time to do the non-transcript from the media session with Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. Please enjoy this hand-crafted non-transcript.

Very good day today, tropical in Lubbock today, thought the guys did a good job of handling the weather and started the practice with team competes. Hit a 55-yarder and that was good. Reese came back and hit a 43-yarder with the 2’s. Joseph Adedire, De’Braylon Carroll at DT and Jacob Rodriguez, had a great practices and scrimmage. Vinny Scuiry is a throwback at OL, Josh Kelly and JohnCarlos Miller stood out. Introduced our first 2 opponents today, in doing Washington State it is similar to our offense. Break up monotony of camp, wanted to introduce stuff that we’ll see. Tomorrow will be a heavy practice and then Thursday they will start school.
Most of our guys are from Texas and it is a little hotter, will be warm tomorrow and there will be times when we play ACU, the weather will be nice and it will be nice when we play Washington State. What helps us is that we are a very deep football team, almost every single position we don’t have to hold back because there is someone who can come in and play.
[Running back depth] Did not scrimmage Tahj Brooks, Cam Dickey had an ankle sprain did not scrimmage but he’s back today. Both Cam Dickey and Cam Valdez are 1A and 1B, J’Koby Williams is a difference-maker and running with the 1’s and 2’s he can see more and he is a homerun hitter.
[Offensive line] Still messing with where everyone is, Caleb Rogers was at left tackle, right guard and right tackle, he feels better on the right side. Sterling Porcher is playing himself back into shape, Sterling is at left tackle, Vinny at left guard, Sheridan Wilson at center, Davion Carter at right guard and Caleb at right tackle, and Ty Buchanan at right tackle, feel good about 6 or 8 or 9, there are 6 guys. Danny Sills, Jackson Hughes, can bump Sills to guard. Dylan Shaw had a good camp, Holton Hendrix can see something with him. Dalton Merryman would be 7. Kaden Carr is moved to center and he loves and he likes to hit people and he gets impatient and with center he has to be more patient, having his hand over the ball has helped him from leaning over too much. At center you have Sheridan, D Carter, Caleb Rodkey and then Karr.
[Standouts] Drae McCray on offense, is a machine, catches the ball in traffic. On the defensive side of the ball is Harvey Dyson, is 250 pounds, is maintaining it and has an edge to him. It is year 3, the light better come on and it is year 3 and am very excited for him.
[Punt returner] We’re starting tomorrow, Josh Kelly would go out first and Jordan Brown is 2A and Micah Hudson at 2B. That’s another touch for these guys.
[Starting defensive line] Qincy Ledet, DB Carrol and Dooda Banks, those 3 are playing at the highest level. James Hansen at the odd stuff and has done really well playing the nose. Trevon McAlpine and Jayden Cofield is in the mix. Was telling DeRuyter that it helps to have 6 or 7 guys to rotate. It does go day-by-day, Cofield will do something really good.
[Defensive end depth] At different times it is Amier Washington at F and Harvey Dyson at the B. Isaac plays both. Joseph Adedire plays both. Talking to Coach Ah You it would be Amier and Harvey at the 1’s. Told Isaac to play 3 hard plays as hard as he can, the depth at the defensive front 7 is impressive.
[At the star] Star A.J. McCarty and Brenden Jordan. Speed that AJ is playing, BJ is right there. We have a competition of max velocity, he’s been the fastest at 21.7 mph. He’s shown up the most.
Running backs, Cam Dickey and have been excited about J’Kobe. They have jumped off of the tape.
The defense has set a tone in the scrimmages. Behren Morton stepped up in the pocket, hit Brady Boyd for a touchdown and then had a really good pass to Jordan Brown in a simulated overtime. Behren has worked hard on understanding things he needs to do to be a really good quarterback and step up in the pocket rather than escape to the right or left.
Still had some pre-snap penalties. Went through a team compete without pre-snap penalties and trending in the right direction. our #1 plan is not to beat yourself.
[Backup at star] At star, Marcus Ramon-Edwards, two young guys, Justin Horne and Ramon-Edwards, are starting to look like football players and they were so young last year. He played running back last year and is starting to make football players. Miquel Dingle is a full go, Mason Tharp had a good practice and Bryce Ramirez had a good practice. Marcus is that 3rd star.
[Kicker competition] Right now the way they are both kicking, there is a competition going into the first game.
Mo Horne has grown up so much, he’s at year 3 and he’s that guy. Been proud of him. Jacob Rodriguez had his best scrimmage. Mo has been fun to watch and he’s at 180 and loves to play physical and takes pride in it. Him and Lux. Devynn Cromwell and Jordan Sanford are playing safety and corner, and we are trying to create depth. Chapman Lewis makes a huge difference when he’s on the field and we need to make sure there is someone there when he needs a break.
[Current injury] Don’t have anyone right now, the physicality has been good, we’ve hit. We are really healthy right now, we got 4 or 5 guys back today who didn’t scrimmage. As long as we trend up, we should be ready to go against ACU.