One of Joey McGuire's bold statements that backfired came early in his tenure when he said his 2023 Texas Tech football team would be two touchdowns better than his 2022 team that finished 8-5. Didn't
work out that way. The 2023 team wound up with a worse record by one game.
So when McGuire was gushing about his 2026 team
on Thursday, Aug. 6, he was playfully asked who'd win if the current Red Raiders played his Big 12 champions from last year.McGuire, well aware of the callback to three years ago, laughed and wouldn't go there.
"I'm not going to say that," he answered, "because I said that year 2 and then we had more injuries than I've been part of since 2012. Literally, those two years, 2012 and my second year here, 2023, I've never had so many injuries, so I'm going to try to stay away from that so we stay healthy."
The Red Raiders' coach has learned better perhaps than to make comparisons that could come back to haunt him, but he's never going to be pessimistic. The question about 2025-vs.-2026 was prompted by his enthusiasm about Tech's depth.
"I can't remember a team like this," he said, "as far as the depth of how many guys we feel like can go out on the field and play."
And: "We were really long and big last year. We're a bigger football team than we were last year. Hopefully that translates to continue to win at a high level, but the depth of this team and how they're holding each other accountable is what you've seen the last two days."
Thursday was the second day of preseason practice in shorts and helmets. Under NCAA rules, players can wear shoulder pads for the first time in the third practice, Friday in Tech's case.
Discussion of the Red Raiders' depth is particularly relevant this year. For one thing, Tech coaches have vowed to use more receivers. Last season, top three receivers Caleb Douglas, Coy Eakin and Reggie Virgil got a disproportionate share of the playing time because of the drop-off between them and the rest of the group.
In an off-season study, McGuire's staff noted that the sixth most-used receivers last year at Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson, among others, played more snaps than Tech's fourth most-used receiver, Micah Hudson.
"There was a difference when Caleb and Reggie were out of the game," McGuire said, "where I think this year we're actually going to be able to get that (rotation).
"We've also talked about ... we were fortunate to play 14 games last year. We want to play 16 games. You want to be able to create that depth, so it's going to be a very purposeful rotation throughout the season, but really early, to get those guys in games."
He said six receivers had gone with the first and second teams on Thursday: Hudson, Donte Lee Jr., Eakin, Jalen Jones, Kenny Johnson and Bryson Jones. Later, he said Auburn transfer Malcolm Simmons "has really showed up these last two days."
A top nine in Texas Tech football offensive line?
McGuire said it's long been one of his core philosophies to use a lot of defensive players. That'll continue. No one wants to play more than one quarterback. Few teams generally want to test their depth on the offensive line either. Up front, Tech's starting five is set, but McGuire sounds as if he has a top nine in mind.
He said Daniel Sill looks like a reliable option behind right tackle Jacob Ponton, Cash Cleveland has seasoning at center and both guard positions and walk-on-made-good D'Anthis Upshaw, who has experience at guard and tackle, has continued to progress.
Redshirt freshman Elias Gillen converted from tackle in the spring and has emerged as the No. 2 right guard.
"Man, really excited about his progression and he is a large human," McGuire said. "He's really, really athletic, bends well and so there is depth in that group."
A way to accommodate Texas Tech football's skill-position logjam
Quinten Joyner's return from a season lost to knee surgery gives the Red Raiders heavy competition at running back, provided he returns to pre-injury form and keeps his weight in check. Cameron Dickey and J'Koby Williams emerged in a big way last year, and Joyner was above them on the depth chart 12 months ago.
How to alleviate the potential playing-time crunch? Tech plans to use Williams in an all-purpose role — one McGuire calls the Joker that will line up at running back or in the slot. Slot receiver Jalen Jones also is being prepped for that position.
"Jalen Jones is going to be one of those throwback slots in Mike Leach's offense," McGuire said. "He's one of those real quick/not real tall receivers, so it's good to have somebody like that because he can do what J'Koby's doing."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football aims to use more personnel on offense — here's how
