back in the win column, two games left and one win needed to go bowling for your Red Raiders
it is Friday, let's Flare...
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WEEKLY CLICKS
...a quick list of links from the various stories posted on RRS this week
Breaking Down Bean, the Jayhawk offense & defense
Staff Predictions: Can Texas Tech right the ship against Kansas
Injury Report: The Starting Quarterback & Status of a Few Against Kansas
Tyree Wilson carted to locker room with apparent injury
McGuire recaps 43-28 win over Kansas, provides update on Wilson
Texas Tech set to host Louisiana Tech on Monday night
Visitor reactions to Texas Tech's win vs KU
Texas Tech commits and targets tracker: Week Twelve
McGuire, DeRuyter give update on Wilson, prepare for Hutchinson, Iowa State
Turnovers plague Texas Tech in 64-55 win over Louisiana Tech
Grading the Red Raiders: Shough plays clean game in home win vs KU
Lindale OL Casey Poe remains a Texas Tech priority for 2024
Red Raiders preparing for cold weather, physical contest against Iowa State
Cy-Fair quarterback Trey Owens is high on Texas Tech
Texas Tech lands local standout ATH Anthony White
Tracking Red Raiders: Bouyer-Randle & the Bowl Eligible UConn Huskies
Week 12 Power Rankings: Huge shakeup in Big 12 hierarchy
Bill Seals of CycloneReport chats Iowa State ahead of showdown in Ames
Texas Tech gearing up to face Iowa State and freezing cold in Ames
2024 Prosper OL Ellis Davis enjoys return visit to Texas Tech
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TTU RECRUITING THIS WEEK
one (1) new 2023 commitment this week and a handful of new offers
the commitment story is linked above, but while this is a preferred walk-on take, White was a one-time four-star prospect and his situation is unique. if you aren't familiar, White suffered a torn ACL over the past year and had to miss his senior season.
he held 12 offers from programs across the country, and the main competition for a while was Mississippi State and Texas along with several other P5 programs...that to say the talent and potential is there, so we are looking at a situation where White can come join the program, continue his rehab and eventually earn a scholarship at Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders offered a prospect in the transfer portal earlier this week, Florida offensive tackle Joshua Braun. Originally from the state of Florida, Braun was a four-star prospect and Top 50 prospect in the state of Florida in the 2019 class.
In a recent article on Rivals, published before the Tech offer, Braun mentioned his top three (3) programs were Penn State, Michigan and Florida State. He has already visited Florida State and has plans to visit UCF this weekend.
Based on him being from Florida and the overall timeline of when the Tech offer came through, we will see what happens with a visit...but seems like a longshot at this point.
Pleasant Grove 2024 athlete Ahkhari Johnson announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. Currently unranked by Rivals, Johnson now holds four (4) early offers from Texas Tech, SMU, Austin Peay and UTSA. It appears Johnson does a little bit of everything at Pleasant Grove and could be a fast riser this next spring, because PG produces ball players and he seems under the radar at the moment.
Atlanta (Texas) 2025 athlete Markeylin Batton announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. Currently unranked by Rivals, Batton now holds three (3) early offers from Texas Tech, UTSA and Austin Peay.
Brownsboro 2025 defensive back Micah Strickland announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. Currently unranked by Rivals, Strickland now holds two (2) early offers from Texas Tech and UTSA.
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WHAT THE SHOUGH?
This past weekend was Tyler Shough's 19th start as a college quarterback, and that number includes a few starts where he was injured.
For all the high school rankings and accomplishments and the perception of Tyler Shough coming in as a transfer quarterback...it has never quite come to fruition in Lubbock, mostly due to injuries.
Shough had a solid all-around game this past weekend, passing for 246 yards and one (1) touchdown and rushing for 76 yards and one (1) touchdown. His scrambling and rushing last Saturday was the difference in the game, on the offensive side.
but...does anyone else get nervous when Shough leaves the pocket?
with the two (2) injuries both occurring during rushing plays, it always comes back to mind whenever Shough is making things happen on the ground.
all of that to say, it feels like Shough is healthy and is gaining momentum in Kittley's offense. the weather in Aimes this weekend will most likely kill the passing game, so protecting Shough and giving him the opportunity to impact this game with his rushing ability is vital.
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TYREE WILSON APPRECIATION POST
if I had predicted that Tyree Wilson would have as many QB pressures as Alabama's Will Anderson going into the season, then you guys would have laughed me off of the board
but here we are, and while Wilson is sitting out this week with injury, he has cemented himself as one of the top prospects going into the NFL Draft season next spring
every major draft expert was gushing over Wilson and his performances over the past few weeks...I do believe him sitting out is more precautionary than him simply not being able to play
that being said...does he suit up for the Red Raiders again? do we see him back next weekend at home against Oklahoma, perhaps in a bowl game should the Red Raiders get to six wins?
that answer could be anyone's guess, but Tyree Wilson has been a tremendous success story in year two at Texas Tech...here is to hoping we get to see him suit up in the Red & Black once again
my guess (?)...you don't see him again until the Reese's Senior Bowl
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BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS
1. TCU (10-0)
The No. 4 Horned Frogs went to Austin and beat the Longhorns in every aspect of the game. Everyone keeps expecting TCU to drop a game, and they still could, but the Horned Frogs continue to play quality football and limit mistakes each week. They travel to Waco for an 11am kick-off against Baylor this weekend, could this be the 'trap game' where they slip up? I doubt it, but they finish the season with this game against Baylor and then the following week at home against Iowa State. TCU has already secured their spot in the Big 12 championship game on December 3rd.
2. Kansas State (7-3)
The No. 15 Wildcats destroyed Baylor on the road last weekend, 31-3. Their backup quarterback Will Howard came into the game and accounted for three (3) touchdowns in another standout performance. Kansas State has been up and down in terms of week to week performances, but the Wildcats seem to now have momentum going into the final two (2) games of the season. They travel to West Virginia for a road game against the Mountaineers at 1pm and then finish the season at home against Kansas. If they can win out, then they are setup for a rematch against TCU in the Big 12 championship game on December 3rd.
3. Oklahoma State (7-3)
The No. 24 Cowboys won a close game at home against Iowa State last weekend, 20-14. They have experienced some quarterback injury issues, but their starter - Spencer Sanders - was back in the lineup last weekend and that could be a good sign going into the last two (2) games of the season. The Cowboys travel to Oklahoma for a Bedlam night game tomorrow. Neither team is playing very well right now, so it might not be the Bedlam we expect on a yearly basis, but rivalry games tend to bring the dramatics and it could be an interesting game to watch with the Red Raiders playing Oklahoma next weekend. OkState will close the season at home against West Virginia, which should result in another 8 or 9 win season for the Cowboys.
4. Texas (6-4)
The Longhorns had a huge home game against undefeated TCU with College Gameday in town. Their offense only scored three (3) points and their only touchdown came on a late, fluke fumble by the TCU offense that was scooped and scored. It was an all-around failure given the opportunity, but this team has been up and down all season long. They travel to Kansas for a 2:30pm kick-off tomorrow afternoon, then finish the season at home against Baylor.
5. Baylor (6-4)
The Bears managed to score three (3) points at home against Kansas State last weekend. Blake Shapen threw a couple of interceptions and the Bears could not move the ball against the Wildcats. Things do not get any easier as Baylor hosts undefeated TCU this weekend for an 11am kick-off. The Bears will finish the season with a road game against Texas next weekend.
6. Texas Tech (5-5)
Your Red Raiders won a much-needed home game against Kansas last weekend, 43-28. The Red Raiders travel to Aimes, Iowa this weekend and will face freezing weather + snow against the Cyclones. So much attention is paid to the weather, mostly because it could be an equalizer for a struggling Iowa State offense. The Cyclones defense is top notch, but the offense has simply not scored points this season and it will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. Tech will finish the season with a home night game against Oklahoma and have two games to win one more game for bowl eligiblity.
7. Kansas (6-4)
The Jayhawks dropped a road game against Texas Tech last weekend. Since their starting quarterback went down against TCU, the Jayhawks have gone 1-3 in Big 12 games with their backup quarterback. That being said, it was easy to see the improvement across the board from this Kansas program last week and there is a reason they were undefeated going into that TCU game. They will host Texas tomorrow afternoon, then they finish the season on the road for a night game at Kansas State next week.
8. Oklahoma (5-5)
The Sooners lost a road game to West Virginia last weekend, 23-20. I'm still ranking them ahead of the Mountaineers for some reason, but the Sooners have the talent and just have not put it all together this season. I read a stat this team has upwards of 40-50 former four-star and five-star propsects, even after the coaching change and various transfers when Lincoln Riley left. It is only year one, but this is definitely uncharted territory for Sooner fans. They host Bedlam against Oklahoma State tomorrow evening and then finish the season on the road for a night game against your Red Raiders in Lubbock.
9. West Virginia (4-6)
The Mountaineers had a great home win against Oklahoma last weekend, 23-20. It was their fourth win of the season in what has been a very below average season for Neil Brown's team. They host No. 19 Kansas State tomorrow afternoon, then they finish the season on the road against No. 24 Oklahoma State. Unless they win out, things could look bad for Brown, but his buyout is sizable and it would take the donors stepping up to make that change.
10. Iowa State (4-6)
The Cyclones dropped a close game on the road in Stillwater last weekend, 20-14. Iowa State has really struggled to score points on offense this season, however, the freezing cold weather in Aimes this weekend could be the equalizer as the Cyclones host your Red Raiders for a night game tomorrow. It will be a slug fest or one of the ugliest games we have ever seen, we will see. They will finish the season on the road against No. 4 TCU next weekend.
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have a great weekend everyone!
