Oct 19, 2019 Lubbock, TX, United states of america Texas Tech Red Raiders jogging back McLane Mannix (13) carries the ball towards the Iowa Condition Cyclones in the second 50 percent at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit history: Michael C. Johnson-Usa Today Sports
With the Texas Tech soccer crew now in recreation 7 days, we get to take pleasure in one particular of tumble camp’s annually rites the release of the season’s initial depth chart. That’s a indication that the return of soccer is just times away and it is result in for celebration.
Of program, it is also cause for watchful observation as we get our initial glimpse as to what the Pink Raider coaching workers has viewed this slide. And of course, there had been a number of anticipations that were verified with the release of this doc. (You can see the overall depth chart in the below tweet from RedRaiderSports.com.)
Initially of all, it arrives as no shock that Henry Colombi has won the backup QB position behind the starter, Tyler Shough. After all, he was the only player in that level of competition who has taken even a one snap in a college match as each of the players guiding him on the depth chart, Donovan Smith and Behren Morton, are freshmen who have but to see match action at this degree.
Likewise, it was no shock to see Erik Ezukanma detailed as the starter at the “Z” receiver place. He is, right after all, Tech’s best receiver and arguably 1 of the very best go-catchers in the Massive 12.
But there was a time when we all ended up anxious that Ezukanma would pass up this week’s video game from Houston. That’s because, in the vicinity of the finish of this year’s spring football follow periods, the junior fell awkwardly on his arm, breaking it and necessitating immediate medical procedures. At the time, Matt Wells stated that Ezukanma’s status for the start off of the year was in doubt and that he could pass up the beginning of 2021. So whilst we are not astonished to see Ezukanma atop the depth chart, it is continue to anything that we must celebrate because he’s all set to go as early as anybody could have hoped.
The linebacking corps was also no shock as Kirshon Merriweather and Colin Schooler are set to start at the “Mike” and “Sam” positions. Both of those players ended up mainstays on the protection last yr as they were being the best two primary tacklers on the squad and each figure to sort just one of the ideal linebacking duos in the nation this season.
The offensive line also shook out just like we suspected with T.J. Storment at left deal with, Weston Wright at remaining guard, Dawson Deaton at middle, Josh Burger at suitable guard, and Caleb Rogers at right tackle.
But however, there were being some intriguing developments from the season’s 1st depth chart. So let us consider a glance at what stands out most.
Still tons of competition at WR
It seems that we will have an ongoing battle for snaps at equally inside of and outside receiver and that’s abnormal for this plan. In actuality, it is tricky to try to remember a period when Tech entered with as substantially uncertainty at receiver as there is this year.
In the slot, McLane Mannix, Myles Price, and Dalton Rigdon are all listed as co-starters even though the point that they are listed in that particular order could be an sign of wherever they stand heading into week one particular. But what we know is that Tech requires much more productivity from that situation than it acquired very last yr.
Among 3 gamers very last yr (Cost, Rigdon, and KeSean Carter) Tech got just 723 receiving yards and 5 TDs. That was not what the Pink Raiders ended up anticipating from their slot receivers and it just cannot be what this year’s crop puts up possibly.
Maybe Mannix could be the solution this 12 months. A previous freshman All-American throughout his time at Nevada, the Midland indigenous was confined to a few online games in 2020 thanks to injuries but he’s reportedly experienced a terrific offseason.
Meanwhile, at the “X” outside receiver situation opposite of Erik Ezukanma, Kaylon Geiger, Trey Cleveland, and J.J. Sparkman are all mentioned as co-starters. None have but to individual from the pack evidently and that would make us question if Tech has a player at that situation all set to crack out and show to be a dependable weapon opposite of the team’s greatest broad receiver, Ezukanma.
It will be attention-grabbing to see how these obtaining positions shake out. Some may perhaps see these 3-headed competitions as a optimistic since they give offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie a lot of choices. However, some others may possibly say that if you have this many solutions, you really don’t definitely have any responses. Here’s hoping that those people solutions start to emerge on Saturday night time.
