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The Red Raiders have completed two of three spring scrimmages and await the third on April 22 at the annual spring game at Lowry Field. With two contradictions in the books, the head coach Joey McGuire He took some time to talk about the progress he’s seen from his younger players.
“I’m very pleased with the team, probably two of the most physical scrimmages I’ve been a part of on both sides of the ball,” McGuire said. “There’s been some good stuff on both sides of the ball, so that’s always good to see and it’s great to see some young guys have good springs.”
One of those young players McGuire took time to recognize was defensive lineman Emaurion Banks, who played in just two games last season but saw his role increase significantly in the weeks leading up to Texas Tech’s win over Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl. .
Banks is getting more experience practicing with the first team this spring, in part because McGuire and his staff are limited. Jaylon Hutchings At a turning point, while Tony Bradford Jr He is currently recovering from an injury suffered at the end of last season.
“[Banks] He played 24 reps in the bowl game,” McGuire said. “Really happy with him; Every day he really shows up. He’s playing at a high level.”
Maurion Horn It’s another young player McGuire is proud of who showed improvement in the spring. Horn is a returning redshirt freshman from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was among the top recruits in the 2022 signing class, McGuire’s first coach.
If the Red Raiders are set to play today, Horn will be one of three corners, likely playing behind the returning seniors. Rayshad Williams Or Malik Dunlap. That’s it.
“Horn had a really wonderful spring,” McGuire said. “Be happy with him. He had a really good source.”
The depth shown in ScrimmAGEs
When McGuire takes over as head coach at the end of the 2021 season, he has had November to review his roster and 15 practices leading up to the AutoZone Independence Bowl to get a feel for his roster’s depth.
Still, many of the seniors from that 2021 season departed after that Independence Bowl win, meaning McGuire still needs more time to evaluate what he and his staff signed as well as the returnees. All this is when a new plan is implemented in all three phases.
Needless to say, that first spring was more about learning about each other, as well as the plan the Red Raiders needed to execute next fall.
This spring, not only McGuire, but the entire Red Raider coaching staff is familiar with Texas Tech’s core system, giving several members of the last two signing classes plenty of opportunities to make an impact on the depth chart.
“I think the biggest thing is our depth,” McGuire said of the difference between last year and this spring. “Last year you come out and there was a distinct difference between the 1s, 2s and 3s. Overall, I feel really good about having two teams out there, and I don’t see a drop.”
Four down with E’MAURION BANKS
Q: How is this spring different for you?
“It’s a different mindset, waking up every day and telling myself that I’ve got this. Coming here to watch movies and stuff like that. It’s just all coming together, and I’m just adding to the work.”
Q: What are you learning from Jalen (Hutchings) and Tony (Bradford Jr.) sitting behind them the last two years?
“Being physical, playing hard and running to the ball.”
Q: How did the ball game show you that you are capable of playing at this level?
“I’ve been practicing all week for that. I felt good, I was able to go out there and play to my potential. The plan we came up with was perfect for me and my game. So, it just felt like it was meant to be.”
Q: What’s one thing you’ve learned so far this spring?
“You put in the hard work, it will come back to you.”
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