Game week is at hand for the Texas Tech football team with the 12th-ranked Red Raiders set to host Abilene Christian on Saturday, Sept. 5, at the newly renamed Galaxy Stadium. Fall camp has just wrapped up, and Tech is expected to release its updated depth chart on Monday, Aug. 31.
So let's do a projection of how it will look.
A few things to get out of the way before diving in: The pecking order at most positions is relatively set coming out of spring, so there's not a lot of change expected since Tech coach Joey McGuire disclosed the post-spring depth chart. Also, Tech scrimmages are closed to the media and general public, and practices, with the exception of 20- to 30-minute viewing periods early in workouts, also are closed. Most of the work that
would inform happens afterward. So there's guesswork here.
Passage of the NCAA's new 5-for-5 legislation, which for the most part eliminates redshirt seasons, has changed the classification of a number of players. For example: Young safeties Peyton Morgan, Oliver Miles III and Malik Esquerra, previously listed as redshirt sophomores, are now juniors.
Also keep in mind, the last season of eligibility is now the fifth year. (Or sixth or seventh year in the case of college players who used a COVID bonus year and-or a medical hardship waiver, options soon to be obsolete.)
Players listed as seniors still have this year and next, when they'll be fifth year. Tech has a lot of key players in this category, among them John Curry, Austin Romaine, Brenden Jordan, Brice Pollock, Quinten Joyner and Kenny Johnson, just to name a few.
Position group: Receivers
Wide receiver X: Kenny Johnson, Sr.; Bryson Jones, So.; Leyton Stone, So.
Slot receiver: Coy Eakin, 5th year; Jalen Jones, Sr.; Chase Campbell, Fr.
Wide receiver Z: Micah Hudson, Jr.; Donte Lee Jr., 5th year; Malcolm Simmons, Jr.
Tight end: Terrance Carter Jr., 5th year; Jett Carpenter, 7th year; Matt Ludwig, Fr.; Jason Llewellyn, 5th year.
Thinking out loud: Chase Campbell could be heard from sooner than later. The fact coaches have talked up Campbell so much attests to his talent level, considering the Frenship grad's a true freshman who participated in spring only on a non-contact basis coming off shoulder surgery.
Position group: Offensive line
Left tackle: Howard Sampson, 5th year; Felix Ojo, Fr.
Left guard: Hunter Zambrano, 7th year; D'Anthis Upshaw, Jr.; Patrick McMath, So.
Center: Sheridan Wilson, 5th year; Patrick McMath, So.; Cash Cleveland, Jr.
Right guard: Jordan Church, Sr.; Cash Cleveland, Jr.; Elias Gillen, So.
Right tackle: Jacob Ponton, Jr.; Daniel Sill, Sr.
Thinking out loud: Who says Texas Tech lost focus on signing and developing high-school recruits the past few years? Patrick McMath from perennial power Katy has positioned himself to be in the line's top eight or nine, position coach Clay McGuire said. The sophomore came out of spring listed third at left guard and fourth at center.
Position group: Quarterbacks
Quarterback: Will Hammond, Jr.; Kirk Francis, Sr; Lloyd "Chub" Jones III, So.; Tommy Castellanos, 5th year.
Thinking out loud: Brendan Sorsby's out. Tommy Castellanos is in. But the dual-threat QB who led Florida State past Alabama last season is a late add for the Red Raiders. He's unlikely to take Will Hammond's job, but the Red Raiders figure to incorporate Castellanos more and more as he learns the playbook, maybe even as a receiver. That's where NFL teams projected him before a court ruling gave him another college season.
Position group: Running backs
Running back: Cameron Dickey, Jr.; J'Koby Williams, Jr.; Quinten Joyner, Sr.
Thinking out loud: Expect a lot from J'Koby Williams, healed after playing the second half of last season on an injured ankle. Be more cautious on Quinten Joyner, getting back into shape coming off ACL surgery. Oh, and the guy who doesn't get mentioned enough was just a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and the Big 12 touchdowns leader last year.
Position group: Defensive line
Boundary end/outside linebacker: Trey White, 5th year; Jamond Mathis, Sr.; LaDamion Guyton, Fr.
Defensive tackle: A.J. Holmes, 5th year; Julien Laventure, 5th year; Jojo Johnson, Sr.
Noseguard: Mateen Ibirogba, 5th year; Bryce Butler, 5th year; Jayden Cofield, Sr.
Field end/outside linebacker: Adam Trick, 5th year; Ansel Nedore, Sr.; Charles Anderson Jr., Jr.
Thinking out loud: With little prompting, Tech coaches have gushed over LaDamion Guyton, the consensus national top-30 recruit the Red Raiders signed out of Georgia's backyard. Joey McGuire says Guyton reminds him of unanimous all-America selection David Bailey — and keep in mind, Guyton's the age of a high-school senior, having reclassified from 2027 graduation to 2026.
Position group: Linebackers
Boundary inside linebacker: Austin Romaine, Sr.; Corey Platt Jr., 6th year; Cord Nolan, Fr.
Field inside linebacker: Ben Roberts, 5th year; Brock Golwas, So.; Wesley Smith, 5th year.
Star (field outside linebacker/safety): John Curry, Sr.; Marcus Ramon-Edwards, Sr.; Mike Dingle, Sr.; Donovan Webb, Fr.
Thinking out loud: This still shapes up as one of the best linebacker units in America, even without takeaways machine Jacob Rodriguez. It's not a huge drop-off from Rodriguez to Austin Romaine, a two-time second-team all-Big 12 honoree at Kansas State. Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood likes to rush with four — what Tech coach wouldn't after last year? — but he thinks Romaine can pressure the passer.
Position group: Secondary
Cornerback: Brice Pollock, Sr.; Davin Martin, Sr.; Ashton Hampton, So.
Boundary safety: Brenden Jordan, Sr.; Malik Esquerra, Jr.; Maddox Quiller, Fr. or Mikal Harrison-Pilot, Sr.
Field safety: Peyton Morgan, Jr.; Oliver Miles III, Jr.; Jordan Rogers, 6th year.
Cornerback: Amier Boyd, Sr.; Tarrion Grant, Jr.; S'Vioarean Martin, Fr.
Thinking out loud: Tech finished camp without any public declaration whether Peyton Morgan, Oliver Miles III or Malik Esquerra had won a three-man competition for one starting job. For now, then, we'll stick Morgan, who was first-team on the post-spring depth chart. Miles and Esquerra have both stuck out in camp, though, prompting defensive coordinator Shiel Wood to say the competition might continue into September.
Position group: Special teams
Kicker: Stone Harrington, 5th year; Jacob Hand, Sr.; Ian Hershey, 5th year.
Punter: Will Karoll, Sr.; Ian Hershey, 5th year.
Short snapper for kicks: Jason Llewellyn, 5th year.
Deep snapper for punts: Rylan Vagana, Jr.
Kickoff return: J'Koby Williams, Jr.; Kenny Johnson, Sr.
Off kickoff return: Cameron Dickey, Jr.; Micah Hudson, Jr.
Punt return: Kenny Johnson, Sr.; Malcolm Simmons, Jr.
Thinking out loud: The return game should have more juice, especially with Johnson, who has a track record of success running back both kickoffs and punts. Simmons, with his speed, could factor in, too.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football depth chart projection as fall camp ends
