:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36204204/20140724_kkt_st3_008.jpg.0.jpg)
Thin Line. The line between everything being totally cool and "welp, here we are again" is very thin at the quarterback position with the transfers of Michael Brewer, Baker Mayfield and Clayton Nicholas (please don't make me try to remember the other walk-ons that moved on at 4:33 am). Per the LAJ, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that he's coaching up these incoming freshman. As a reminder, the incoming freshmen are Patrick Mahomes (Whitehouse), Hunter Rittman (San Antonio Johnson), Payne Sullins (Waco Reicher) and Vincent Testaverde, Jr. (Tampa). The list does not include Mason McClendon, who ended up going to Houston. Here's Kingsbury:
"We have some new freshmen walk-ons coming in," Kingsbury said. "It's a similar process to how it went with Baker. We searched the state for the best ones we thought could play Division I football, and we feel like we got ... I guess we're going to have four true freshmen coming in total, including Patrick, and we'll get them all reps and try to get guys ready to go play."
Texas Tech at #28. The NFL is ranking the college teams and the Red Raiders are grouped close to Texas (#26) and Texas A&M (#25), with the Red Raiders checking in at #28:
The outlook: The Red Raiders were a team of steaks last season (7-0 before going 0-5), but a big bowl win and the promise of Webb as a true freshman have Tech fans optimistic going into fall camp. There's zero depth behind him at quarterback, however, so a solid offensive line will have to keep him upright long enough to find weapons on the outside like Jakeem Grant, Marquez and a host of others. Stopping the run better is once again the task of the defense, and several transfers (including Williams from the offense) should shore up the front seven going into 2014. The secondary and special teams will likely be weak links, but there's time for Kingsbury and his staff to get everybody up to speed before they hit the back-loaded schedule once again.
If you would like a more scientific and accurate ranking, here is Spencer Hall with Texas Tech at #22.
Grant at #23. ESPN is ranking the top 25 Big 12 players and the guy that no one wants to fight, IR Jakeem Grant, is ranked at #23:
23. Jakeem Grant, WR, Texas Tech: Despite being the third receiving option in an offense that rotated true freshman quarterbacks last year, Grant still finished sixth in the league in receiving yards per game. Now he's the No. 1 option. And he'll be catching passes from a rapidly improving passer in Davis Webb. Grant is electric with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately for opposing defenses, he should have the ball plenty this season.
Shining Head Coaches. Perfect Game is taking a look at the shining head coaches in college baseball and your list would be invalid without Tim Tadlock:
There might've been some out there who chuckled when Tadlock mentioned Omaha several times the first few months on the job with the Red Raiders. But it was no laughing matter, and Tadlock meant business. The Red Raiders finished last season with a 9-15 Big 12 mark, 26-30 overall record, but made quite the turnaround this season, going 14-10 in the league, 45-21 overall, and most importantly, finishing the most historic season in Tech baseball history with the program's first trip to the College World Series. Tadlock and his coaching staff did an amazing job in 2014, and the Red Raiders return all the key pieces needed to emulate that success next season.
Crabtree Burning. Apparently, Michael Crabtree is having a fantastic camp for the 49ers:
One-handed catches 30 yards down the field. Beating press-man coverage at the line of scrimmage. Developing chemistry with a number of quarterbacks. That's been Michael Crabtree's training camp experience in a nutshell. The veteran play-maker was used sparingly in offseason workouts but that hasn't been the case in camp. Crabtree is bursting off the ball and showing no signs of his Achilles tear in 2013. Crabtree looks better than ever.#
Miscellaneous. Surprising no one, Texas Tech plays at the fastest pace in college football . . .
