Running Back
Texas Tech will be looking to replace one of the Big 12’s best running backs, Tahj Brooks. In the last two seasons, Brooks totaled 576 carries, 3,043 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 27 touchdowns.
Replacing Brooks will be USC transfer Quinten Joyner. Joyner produced great numbers on limited carries last season, totaling 478 yards and 3 TDs on 7.6 yards per carry. Only 81 carries in the last two seasons leave one big question for Joyner: Can he withstand a 300 carry season like Tahj Brooks?
Backing up Joyner will be sophomore RB J’Koby Williams. Williams totaled 236 yards on 41 carries last season.
At 5’10 230 pounds, Tahj Brooks provided a physical element to the Red Raiders’ running game. Joyner and Williams are 215 pounds and 185 pounds. Texas Tech will likely need a run scheme focused on split carries and off-tackle touches.
Offensive Line
The Red Raiders are replacing three starters on the offensive line. Despite ranking 9th in the country in pass attempts, the 2024 offensive line ranked in the top half of the country in sacks allowed.
Replacing these three starters are UNC transfer Howard Sampson, Miami OH transfer Will Jados, and Illinois State transfer Hunter Zambrano.
Sampson earned All-ACC Honorable Mention at UNC. However, he stands at 6’8 340 pounds. How will he translate into a spread system that has him operate in space? Jados performed well at Miami OH, but he was not a highly targeted portal recruit. He chose Texas Tech over UTEP, Wake Forest, and Pittsburgh. Zambrano is perhaps the best of the bunch. He chose Texas Tech over multiple top programs. His versatility and experience made him one of the top players in the portal.
Can an offensive line with three starting transfers gel together fast enough for the Red Raiders to start the season strong? That question will be answered soon.
Secondary
Texas Tech is hoping that North Dakota State transfer Cole Wisniewski can be the star of the 2025 secondary. Wisniewski, though playing in the FCS, grabbed 8 interceptions in 2023. However, he missed the entire 2024 season with a foot injury. He will be working back up to game speed to start the season.
Brice Pollock, Brenden Jordan, Maurion Horn, and Miquel Dingle Jr are the other four projected starters in the secondary. These four players have totaled only one interception between them in the 2024 season.
The 2-deep rotation will include four transfers from this recent transfer cycle. The defensive staff will be looking for this group to continue to build a connection over the rest of fall camp.
In 2024, Texas Tech had the 3rd worst passing defense in college football, ranking 132nd out of 134 teams. For Texas Tech to compete for a Big 12 title and college football playoff spot, this is the position group that must improve the most.
Transfer Portal Variance
You might wonder why a team that went 8-5 last season is being considered as a potential playoff contender for 2025. Well, Texas Tech brought in 21 transfers this offseason, including 13 4-stars. The program has not been shy about admitting to spending $10 million in the transfer portal.
This style of team building has been a boom-or-bust strategy for teams in recent years. For Florida State, transfers gave the program a 13-1 season in 2023. However, the same strategy produced a 2-10 record for the Seminoles in 2024. For Ole Miss, the portal gave the program one of the nation’s best pass rushes and defenses.
There’s a chance that Texas Tech hits on its transfer recruits, and there’s a chance that a lot of these recruits can be whiffs. That’s what makes this team so intriguing for the upcoming season.
