Texas Tech football released the availability report and it continues to grow, especially on the questionable list. Bralyn Lux continues to be on the list as is Josh Kelly (McGuire said he thinks he will play), Ben Roberts, Amier Washington, De’Braylon Carroll, and Jordan Brown.
OUT FOR SEASON
Dylan Spencer So. OLB Knee
Joseph Adedire Jr. OLB Knee
Vinny Sciury Sr. OL Knee
Cam’Ron Valdez Jr. RB Knee
OUT FOR CINCINNATI
Javeon Wilcox R-Fr. DB Knee
QUESTIONABLE FOR CINCINNATI
Jordan Brown Sr. WR Shoulder
De’Braylon Carroll Sr. DL Leg
Charles Esters III Jr. OLB Thigh
Josh Kelly Sr. WR Ankle
Bralyn Lux Sr. DB Thigh
Ben Roberts So. LB Shoulder
Amier Washington RFr. OLB Hip
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams: How Texas Tech football prepped for a 92-year schedule oddity
The rarity happened this year because the Big 12 schedule architect put new members Arizona State, Cincinnati and Arizona at the front of the Red Raiders’ conference schedule. Non-conference foes Abilene Christian, Washington State and North Texas weren’t carryovers either.
I wondered if that meant more man hours for the Tech staff this summer preparing for those teams as opposed to, say, TCU and Baylor, teams the Red Raiders see every year.
“What we do coming out of spring and into summer is we break down our first four opponents,” Tech coach Joey McGuire said Monday. “So we kind of had everybody up to this point broken down, and then we’ll watch (game-five opponent) Cincinnati, we’ve watched (game-six opponent) Arizona, but once you start getting into the season, now you’ve got four games that you can watch, and so you kind of know who these guys are.”
The Dallas Morning News’ Justin Apodaca: With Big 12 ‘wide open’, Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire sees opportunity in Cincinnati matchup
It will be up to a young Red Raider defense — one that saw over 50% of its snaps come from underclassmen on Saturday — to take down a Cincinnati offense that can beat a team in a multitude of ways.
“We are playing a lot of young guys on defense, and, you know, the more they play, the better they’re going to get,” McGuire said. “I think one thing that the defensive staff has done is, I don’t want to say simplify, but really, we’re taking reps in things that we’ve got a lot of reps banked.”
If the Red Raiders can handle business in a game that is projected by most to be a Tech victory, they could set themselves up to have an excellent back end of the season, taking advantage of the home-heavy front half of the schedule.
Red Raider Sports’ Justin Apodaca: McGuire: Red Raiders met with opportunity on Saturday against Cincinnati
Offensively, the Red Raiders have been better, currently sitting at 15th in the country and second in the Big 12 in total offense, something that McGuire is proud of as Tech’s season nears the mid-point.
“Offensively, we’re trending in a good direction, where this is the most points that we’ve averaged, I think since we’ve been here,” McGuire said. “I think we’re in the top 25 in almost every offensive category. Behren’s (Morton) playing really well. Tahj is playing well. And, you know, our offensive skill, especially Josh Kelly and Caleb Douglas, really got us going early in the game. I think we’re doing a good job. We’ve got to continue to be better.”