The 12th-ranked Texas Tech football team has its second scrimmage of fall camp coming up on Saturday, Aug. 22. After that, it's another week of workouts before game week sets in for the Sept. 5 season opener against Abilene Christian.
The Red Raiders are just past the midpoint of preseason practice. Since spring and still this week, we've chronicled the competition for Tech's one open safety position. Another battle for a starting job has cropped up in camp. Here's a look at that development and five names that have come up this week.
Texas Tech offensive line has a position in question
The Red Raiders' first five up front seemed set coming out of spring,
but seventh-year senior Hunter Zambrano and junior D'Anthis Upshaw have both worked with the first team at left guard this week. Zambrano redshirted last year because of a back injury. Upshaw was a backup left tackle and blocking tight end in short-yardage situations, but the Tech staff thinks he's a more natural fit for guard.
Offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich called it "a little bit of a left-guard competition" on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
"I think both those guys are competing really well," he said, "and it's elevated both of their play."
Five Texas Tech football players making waves
∎ Will Hammond, QB: Though he's wearing a knee brace, the Red Raiders' starting quarterback has seemed unbothered by any effects from his ACL surgery. Leftwich said Hammond completed 67% of his passes during the first scrimmage last week, which was closed to the media and general public.
"I thought he did a really nice job moving in the pocket," Leftwich said. "I think he did a really nice job going through progressions. Really clean operation with that (first-team) group, subbing in and out our personnel, getting plays in, no pre-snap penalties."
Referring to situation-specific drills such as two-minute offense and red-zone work, Leftwich said, "In some challenging spots, I thought he performed really well."
∎ Jayden Cofield, DT: Cofield looks to be ahead of schedule in his comeback from January surgery for a partial Achilles tendon tear. Tech coach Joey McGuire initially projected Cofield not returning in games until the second half of the season, but the timeline gradually moved up to September, and now he's practicing in full pads.
"We've got Jayden Cofield back without any restrictions," defensive line coach Imarjaye Albury Sr. said Tuesday, "and, man, he's playing with his hair on fire right now, looking really, really good."
∎ Austin Romaine, LB: On Monday, defensive coordinator Shiel Wood rattled off a long list of ways in which the transfer from Kansas State was impressing. Wood's counterpart on the other side sees the same.
"Austin Romaine's having as good of a fall camp as you can have," Leftwich said. "That guy's a stud."
Romaine, who's taking over the position manned by Butkus Award winner Jacob Rodriguez, led Kansas State in tackles two years ago and was leading again through nine games last year when he underwent season-ending surgery for a hand and wrist injury.
∎ J'Koby Williams, RB: Did you really think Williams' ascent would stop with a breakout sophomore season and being a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award? Tech coaches had reason to believe Williams would reach another level simply because an ankle injury he suffered in the fifth game last year became a multi-week bother.
Now he's healthy, fighting Cameron Dickey and Quinten Joyner for time and showing new dimensions.
"Oh, my gosh," running backs coach Garret McGuire said. "I think he is probably one of the most improved players on the team, if not the country. The number one thing that stands out to me is his mental capacity and how he can handle the volume of what we're asking him to do because of so many different roles — playing in the backfield, playing in the slot, playing at number one (wide receiver) and then the details that come with that — being a true route runner and then what we're asking him to do in the backfield."
∎ Jalen Jones and Chase Campbell, IR: We promised five players to watch. We'll make it 5A and 5B. Leftwich said the backups to returning starter Coy Eakin are making for a strong group of inside receivers.
"I think Jalen Jones and Chase Campbell really are two guys in the slot that are having phenomenal fall camps," Leftwich said. "Just super consistent. You know when you're throwing those guys the ball, they're going to be in the right spot and they're going to make the play if we give them a shot."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football — 1 key development, 5 players in the spotlight
