Non-transcripts today of head coach Joey McGuire, defensive coordinator Shiel Wood, and offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich. I did not have time to really check this other than for spelling (which there are probably still mistakes, but I’m running out of time).

Head coach Joey McGuire:

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now

Buy Me a Coffee Strava’s Staking The Plains Running Club PLEASE NOTE: Words that are in italics are quotes from a story or link.

• Had a really good spring. Situational football on Friday. Similar to last year. Have some good on good, 2-minute periods, and end with red zone lockout. Guys are in good spots. Moments last week where the offense and defense coming together, becoming closer. Pretty healthy. Terrence Carter has a high ankle, is on the right side of it and he would play if there was a game. Just don’t want to put him in a practice.
• 1. Really good run defense, have some defensive guys back and have some guys who can stop the run. 2. Better in the offensive line and can run the football, have 2 big-time backs in J’Koby and Cameron and Q soon. Sorsby is 238 and 240 and can really run and that’s a big part of it. 3. Really good kicker in Stone Harrington and one of the best in kicking long field goals.
• 1. Have vets in secondary, Payton and Malik, how they communicate. 2. Chemistry in the passing game and need to continue to grow. 3. Continue to grow culturally, will happen in June and July. Had a lot of NFL teams talk about how connected we were last year, that’s my responsibility. Try to do the most to get us to be together. Going in a good direction.
• Big proponent of being heavy in January and am in favor of keeping one portal and would be easier when we fix the calendar. It is huge and now we are focused on this team and becoming closer and better schematically. Coming out as healthy as we can and get Q and Joyner back, Grant and Pollock have not gone through spring. Having a great June and July, makes a big difference. Do have a few freshmen coming in, maybe 3 or 4.
• To get a letter jacket was incredible. Antonio Huffman, played for Coach Leach and worked for Coach Leach, he had started this ceremony and it is very cool, the former lettermen come up and announce your name and where you are from, the spring of 2022 and I was so envious. Last spring after the ceremony I got all of the lettermen together and I asked if we win the Big 12, I would like to be awarded a letter jacket. If you say no, I get it, but I wanted to earn the jacket. Rodney Allison videotaped presented it to me and it is one of my favorite days and awesome to see Cash Cleveland start it and Austin McNamara walking into a game with the Jets and can’t wait to wear it off the bus at Jones AT&T. It was a special moment.
• Really excited and haven’t been in the stadium for spring football. Week before we had our coaches clinic and was modified. First time that this group will really practice in Jones AT&T. Excited Red Raider Nation gets the first look what this team looks like and as big and as physical as we were last year we are bigger. Across the board and am always excited because it gives us the first opportunity to see what we will look like. Capitalize on the opportunity. Offense has to score touchdowns in the red zone and need to be better. Stuff like that to continue to execute.
• The c’mon man, want them all to look like football players and not riding in the Tour de France and come out and play football and getting better. There will be nerves. Will be the same way against Abilene Christian and Skyler Gill-Howard played the first game at Texas Tech sold out, and was the first of his career. So lucky to have this fan base.
• Adam Trick and Trey White are high effort guys, play at a high level and fit right in on the defensive part. Trey has a unique bend to him and has contributed to the number of sacks in his career. Last year was the first for Trick at defensive end and Bryce Butler is a true block hitter, has some pass rush ability and is a run stopper. AJ Holmes and Mateen in there together, they are tough to block and elite skills. All of them continue to get better. Julian is going to remind people of Skyler and his effort and explosiveness. Has a good voice in the locker room. Got good news on Cofield, could be back by the Houston game and is further ahead than expected and adds depth. Will have a legit 3-deep at both defensive tackles.
• Jayden is going through his MRI’s and is healing faster than expected. Won’t rush him, but would be great to have him back.
• Expectation of change of spring practices to OTA’s, think it will be in 2027, OTA’s to have more time in June and be at 20 hours. No one has pushed back on that.
• Benefits on the Thanksgiving, can modify practice late, can potentially get an extra day of rest, so that could be good. Friday against Houston is going to be a good game. Is going to be a big match-up. Also getting our guys rested, got to get our guys ready to go coming back from Oregon State. Still figuring out who you are, will know your strengths and weaknesses. Late against TCU, you already know what you’re going to do. Will be tough on families and need to have Thanksgiving at Jones AT&T.

Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood:

• 1. Knowing their assignments, 2 playing good techniques, and 3. the effort has been good.
• Mateen has been improved as much as anyone. We identified on things he can grow in terms of technique and he’s understanding what we are doing.
• Any time you have a defensive lineman who has wrestled, so much with strength and leverage and just leaning against someone. The body control and balance probably relate well to defensive line play.
• Austin has been fantastic and has worked hard, is playing at a high level and looks big physical and fast. Another great character guy, loves football.
• This year’s team has done a great job of bonding, still in a growth phase, just in general have good high-character indiiduals, they are self-motivated and love football. Have had a lot of success and have a team that will grown into a player-led team.
• Corey Platt has done a nice job of what we are trying to get done and be a good linebacker. Corey had done a great job of adding into that room, and he’s doing a great job for us.
• I like to think we have enough flexibility that we have enough packages and we can take advantage of the skillsets of what we have. Opportunity to line up at different spots. Have a lot of flexibility up front and can do different things at a high level.
• Davin Martin transferring in, him and Amier are working with the 1st group. Been pleased with him, as he continues to develop, he’s done nice things.
• Corey has had a remarkable journey, could not be more excited to have him. In that 2023 season, I had just gotten there and was working with Corey on a daily basis and he was primed, he tore his Achilles with about 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and was getting up off the ground when he tore it and he was off to an unbelievable start. He was sidelined with another Achilles on the other side, such a difficult situation, and speaks to the character and toughness to come back from those and have a good season and transfer in here. He looks like I remember. Can do a lot of different things from him.
• Corey comes from a great family, how he interacts with people and handles his business, speaks to who he is. Never would have dreamed that I get to see him battle through the challenges and come out the other side. Excited to be part of his career again.

Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich:

• Growth from the new guys, the level of detail and how fast they have picked up the offense.
• 1. Excited about offensive line. 2. Quarterback room is developing, Kirk Francis and Chub Jones are getting reps. 3. Going to have the ability to be really multiple in personnel groupings.
• Every year is a little different, 5th year and 5th starting quarterback. Pretty good feel and his ability to extend and that’s an added explosiveness without having to scheme anything. Excited about the weapons we have and how they have reacted to the install.
• Brendan Sorsby has gotten in and worked hard. He was always in my office trying to pick up the playbook. The skillset was evident. The intangible piece of the work ethic. Really fired up about who he is as a player and a person.
• Coy has had a solid spring, Bryson Jones has taken a solid step, Micah Hudson has looked like you want him to look and been very consistent. All of the new guys are different, but Donte Lee has vertical juice, Kenny Johnson can do it all. Jalen Jones makes a bunch of plays and earned reps. Malcolm Simmons does some freaky things and is a talented athlete.
• Have gotten a lot of not being recognized.
• The biggest thing for Hudson was just consistency in his life, first time in his life where he wasn’t hurt or transferred and has done a great job in his approach and starting to see that play off. He has attacked this offseason with the right mindset.
• I hope all the position groups have a good showing on Friday, most excited about the depth in the receiver room. Last year played just 3 guys and this year can roll 6 or 7 deep.
• The two edges vs. the two tackles. They’ve got some good battles going and love when the linebackers blitz against the running backs. Both the starting cornerbacks, Amier has grown and have been impressed with Davin Martin.
• For the quarterback, each guy is a little different, usually by the end of spring ball and we’ve gone through 11 spring practices, he has a good sample size of what he sees well and what he needs improvement.

Texas Tech received the commitment from 4/5-star 2027 defensive end Anthony Sweeney (6-4/230) from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland.

Recruiting profiles: On3 | 24/7 Sports | ESPN

Red Raider Sports’ Jarrett Ramirez spoke to Sweeney about his commitment:

“Coach McGuire has established and built a championship culture, and his staff is elite. Over the last five months, I’ve developed a real relationships with Coach (Jacquies) Smith and GM Mr. Blanchard, and I can see why Texas Tech will soon be competing for a National Championship,” Sweeney told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong after the visit.