Texas Tech College Football Preview 2021: Top Players
Best Texas Tech Offensive Player
QB Tyler Shough, Jr.
It wasn’t like he was bad at Oregon. He completed 65% of his passes for 1,703 yards and 16 touchdowns with six picks, and he averaged over nine yards per attempt. He’s not really a runner, but he can take off from time to time and be fine, he has the 6-5, 220-pound size, and he’s got the all-around tools to be next year’s No. 1 overall draft pick in a class that might be relatively light on quarterbacks – at least compared to the 2021 NFL Draft.
2. WR Erik Ezukanma, Jr.
3. C Dawson Deaton, Sr.
4. RB SaRodorick Thompson, Jr.
5. OG Weston Wright, Jr.
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Best Texas Tech Defensive Player
LB Riko Jeffers, Sr.
The best player could be Colin Schooler or leading tackler Krishon Merriweather, but Jeffers is the four-year veteran who has been through all the battles and knows how to handle this D. He’s a 6-2, 235-pound outside playmaker with 223 career tackles and six sacks with 22.5 tackles for loss. He wasn’t a huge recruit, but he turned into one of the Big 12’s best defenders.
2. LB Colin Schooler, Sr.
3. LB Krishon Merriweather, Sr.
4. S Eric Monroe, Sr.
5. CB DaMarcus Fields, Sr.
Top Incoming Texas Tech Transfer
QB Tyler Shough, Jr.
The Red Raiders landed a few other transfers who should be decent – S Marquis Waters should find a home right away – but getting a quarterback with Shough’s upside was a major coup.
He still needs polish and has to speed up his decision-making skills, but it’s not a stretch to call him the most talented quarterback in Lubbock since that Mahomes guy was winging it around.