Texas Tech Football Notebook: Shough Speaks; Super Seniors & More

Hello.

It’s been a busy moment.

Gone all weekend, arrive home and then watch the basketball game and then getting a post-game thoughts in before passing the heck out. Being gone all weekend always takes a bit out of me, even more so when I camp outside with the boys. It was a bit chillier than expected. Regardless, we had a good time. Let’s get to the notebook.

RedRaiderSports’ Matt Clare spoke with new incoming transfer quarterback Tyler Shough (again, pronounced “shuck”) about leaving Oregon, committing to Texas Tech, and the offense at Texas Tech, namely an explosive and efficient offense.

Rivals’ Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney ask if Shough will put up monster numbers, with one taking one position and the other taking the other position. Honestly, I’m not sure given Sonny Cumbie’s most recent track record at TCU where the offense was less than explosive. With that beign said, I think that Gorney is correct here:

But Shough is arguably the most talented QB Wells will have had coming into his third season with the Red Raiders and the former four-star is capable of slinging it all over the field. Texas Tech is no longer in the business of just trying to outscore everybody, but Shough is really good. Wells knows he needs a spark in season three or Texas Tech might be looking for another coach.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked college football’s top 60 quarterbacks of the 2000’s, taking into account stats and winning. You’ll be disappointed to know that Baker Mayfield is #1, but whatever. It’s just supposed to be a fun list.

Surprisingly Patrick Mahomes is #54 (stats only get you so far, winning more games would have helped):

Even by the standards of the typical air-raid quarterback, Mahomes was asked to do a lot. He threw 44 passes per game as a sophomore in 2015, then 49 per game as a junior, and despite his being, you know, Patrick Dang Mahomes, Tech went only 12-13 in that span.

And Graham Harrell is #32:

What Daniel was to Mizzou, Harrell was to Tech, teaming with all-world WR Michael Crabtree to win 20 games in 2007-08 and briefly moving the Red Raiders to No. 2 in the polls. He averaged 55 passes and 439 yards per game in 2007, one of the great volume-shooter performances ever.

Texas Football’s Shehan Jeyarajah writes about the “super seniors” and one of the main focuses is on Texas Tech safety Seth Collins who decided to return for a 7th year:

But thanks to injuries and coaching changes, we haven’t seen the best of Collins in Lubbock as yet. With the NCAA granting Collins an almost unmatched seventh year of eligibility, he wants to get it right.

“I haven’t finished what I’ve started,” Collins said. “I want to go out of college football with a bang. I want to show I’m still that guy that can play at a high level.”

I’ve thought about this and why a player would return and with the job market the way that it is, why not go back to school for another year and hope that things are a bit better. I’ll be interested to see what Collins does.

This isn’t football news, but still news to cover, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced a reorganization of the athletic department executive staff. I can’t say that I completely understand the why, but my guess is that there are more people overseeing how things operate. I’d add that maybe the biggest announcement was the hiring of Brandi Stuart as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. Given the issues in women’s basketball and softball, it was clear that a new person needed to be overseeing women’s sports.

Kansas announced that Les Miles and Kansas agreed to part ways last night in the 10 o’clock hour. I am somewhat shocked that the AD, Jeff Long, is still employed, but what do I know. Pressure on Miles was mounting in wake of a report about his inappropriate conduct with female student support staff while at LSU.

Early morning practice and lifters of the week.

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