Joey McGuire always looks forward to the start of preseason practice. The Texas Tech football coach might have even more reason than usual this year.
For one thing, he has a good team, one ranked No. 12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll
with many key pieces back from a 12-2 conference champion. For another, the start of August workouts means the Red Raiders can look ahead from the post-spring disruption of parting ways with starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby.Tech's first practice is scheduled for 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
"Man, I can't wait," McGuire said Tuesday at a local media day press conference. "It seems like this has been an extremely long off-season, but it's been a great off-season. I really do believe that."
Tech football practice begins
Even though Tech lost nine players to the NFL draft, the Red Raiders restocked through the NCAA transfer portal and McGuire said he's optimistic.
"This is probably as deep as we've been since we've been here," said McGuire, who's starting his fifth year as Tech head coach. "This is a deeper team. Not saying it's better or worse, but we're deeper than we were in '24 and '25."
Here are some key takeaways from McGuire's pre-camp press conference.
Texas Tech football injury updates
Akron transfer Julien Laventure could be sidelined for the first week after the defensive tackle burned one of his hands in a cooking accident on Monday.
"I know he's really frustrated," McGuire said. "He'll be back. We just want to make sure that hand's good. I think a little grease got on it, so we're not going to put him in an (adverse) situation. We do not want that injury to progress into something worse, so our expectation is he will be back next Monday if not sooner."
As the Avalanche-Journal previously reported, offensive lineman Holton Hendrix will miss the season with a knee injury. Also out for the season, McGuire said, are linebacker Chris Lemons and defensive back Braylan McDonald. Inside receiver Kai Powell (knee) is expected back in October. McGuire said offensive linemen Ren Brown and Ellis Davis and defensive back Mikal Harrison-Pilot will miss the first day or first few days of camp.
"We're really fortunate we're in a good spot," McGuire said. "I think we've had a lot longer list in the past."
Texas Tech football position battles to watch
Tech hosts Abilene Christian in a Sept. 5 season opener. Some of the competitions between now and then will be for backup spots among the edge defenders and wide receivers. Miami (Ohio) transfer Adam Trick finished spring atop the depth chart at field edge, backed by junior Ansel Nedore and sophomore Charles Anderson Jr. At boundary edge, it's San Diego State transfer Trey White backed by Kent State transfer Jamond Mathis and LaDamian Guyton.
"We play so many people on defense, we play so many people up front, I think there's some really good battles," McGuire said. "I'm really anxious to see Charles Anderson. He had a good spring and he's had a good summer, so he and Ansel are battling at that field end. I think Jamond Mathis could play that field end, too, but I think there's going to be a good battle between him and Guyton behind Trey White."
Guyton reclassified from the 2027 high-school class to the 2026 class. After working through logistics with Tech's front office staff, he was expected to join the team late Tuesday or Wednesday and start practicing this week.
McGuire said competition for playing time is similar among the backup receivers. Sophomores Bryson Jones and Leyton Stone are fighting for time behind Pitt senior transfer Kenny Johnson at an outside spot. Alabama State transfer Jalen Jones and freshman Chase Campbell from Frenship are competing for time behind slot receiver Coy Eakin.
"I'm anxious to see the movement in that group," McGuire said of the slot receivers. "Bryson Jones at the outside receiver and Leyton, the battle there."
Illustrating the quality of depth at the position, McGuire cited Auburn transfer Malcolm Simmons, who's third behind junior Micah Hudson and Liberty transfer Donte Lee Jr. at one outside receiver. In his last two games last year, Simmons caught 5 passes for 149 yards against Mercer and 3 passes for 143 yards against Alabama with a touchdown in each game.
Where did Joey McGuire put Texas Tech football on his ballot?
McGuire is a voter on the US LBM Coaches Poll and said he put the Red Raiders "ninth or 10th" on his ballot in the preseason poll. Tech is No. 12 in the preseason poll released Tuesday.
"I wasn't surprised we're right around where we're at," he said.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: McGuire, Texas Tech football ready to put on game faces as camp starts
