Takeaways from Texas Tech’s first spring scrimmage

Despite the attention the basketball and baseball programs have garnered this year, Tech football has silently gone about it’s spring practice. This past Saturday, Kliff Kingsbury and company packed up for Midland to showcase the program and offer possible answers to lingering questions fans have had since the bowl loss to South Florida.

While the roster is not completely set, with some recent signees not on campus until this summer, fans got a look at a few players that were missed over the course of last season. With the graduation of Justin Stockton and a lingering injury to Tre King, Da’Leon Ward got the bulk of the carries on Saturday. Showing some of the flash and hard nosed running that made him a fan favorite in 2016, Ward rushed for three touchdowns over 16 carries for 79 yards.

The most contemplated question is who will be under center come the opener against Ole Miss? As discussed at the beginning of spring practice, Jett Duffey, the fan favorite, led the offense to start the scrimmage with a 12 play 75 yard drive capped by a Ward rushing TD. Whatever answers were gleamed from that drive soon faded back into obscurity as Duffey threw a pick-six to Justus Parker and a botched snap into a motioning wide-receiver caused another turnover inside the red zone. A place where coaches and fans alike would like to see fewer mistakes and more production. Overall, Duffey finished 14-22 for 165 yards.

The other two quarterbacks battling Duffey for the starting position had similar, but not overly spectacular, days behind center. McLane Carter, who got everyone’s attention in the first quarter against Texas last year, and subsequently forgotten over the following two quarters, went 11-18 for 113 and a 19 yard touchdown pass to Antoine Wesley. Oddly enough the only passing score of the scrimmage. True freshman, Alan Bowman went 8-12 passing for 62 yards. Nothing of note other than Bowman didn’t do anything to remove himself from the position battle and is someone I still consider to be the dark horse in getting the nod come September.

Other takeaways of note:
De’Quan Bowman worked as inside receiver going 5 receptions for 58 yards. He also worked on kickoff return.

Sterling Galban, true freshman, took work as punt returner and would be great in that role as a freshman to get his play-making ability into the game.

Demarcus Fields got work in at safety opposite Jah’Shawn Johnson

Jordyn Brooks did not play still dealing with a hamstring injury. Riko Jeffers started in his place.

Place kicking didn’t seem to be an issue during the scrimmage.