No. 46-Texas Tech Red Raiders, BIG XII Conference (South), odds of winning a National Championship 180/1 While vacationing with his family in Cancun, Mexico last week Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach was delivered news he already suspected. His team was predicted to finish fifth in the six team South Division of the BIG XII Conference by the media who cover the league at the media days meetings held in San Antonio on Wednesday, July 18.
The last time the Red Raiders were picked to finish this low was 2003, the year B.J. Symons set an NCAA record with 5,833 passing yards that resulted in a record 52 touchdown passes.
Tech returns only four starters on offense and five on defense from a team that finished 7-6 with an Insight Bowl victory. Fortunately for the Raiders, they return starting quarterback Graham Harrell, the first to return as starter since Kliff Kingsbury from 2000-02 seasons.
The Red Raiders must replace both offensive and defensive lines as well as most of its receiving corps from 2006. Danny Amendola is the only experienced receiver returning and the Red Raiders will need a lot of production from L.A. Reed, Eric Morris, Edward Britton and redshirt freshman Mike Crabtree.
The Raiders have major issues along the offensive line. Only All-Conference OG Louis Vasquez and RT Rylan Reed are the only returning upperclassmen expected to start. Senior JUCO transfer Ofa Mahetau is expected to add valuable depth.
Tech will be in good shape in the running game if All BIG XII running back Shannon Woods and coach Leach can mend their squabbles. Woods was demoted to second string following spring drills due to a “Lax Attitude in practice,” according to Leach. Expect Leach to get most of the work from the back set but he will be splitting time with sophomore Kobe Lewis.
Defensively, coordinator Lyle Setencich will be tasked with building a defensive line after losing most of his starting unit from last year. The line will have one anchor to build around in All-Conference defensive end Jake Ratcliff. Setencich expects plenty of production from sophomore Brandon Williams and senior Tyler Yenzer. In the middle it gets even worse. Rajon Henley and Richard Jones were forced into action as freshmen and they will need to harness that experience quickly if the team wants to improve on their 86 th national ranking in rush defense.
At linebacker, Kellen Tillman is back having been granted a sixth year of eligibility. Linebackers Chad Hill and Paul Williams are adequate starters but there is virtually no depth developed beyond the trio. Fortunately, the defense returns a solid defensive backfield with the return of safeties Joe Garcia and Darcel McBath along with corner Chris Parker.
