2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season.
As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. We put a bow on our Big Ten conference previews, and now, we are moving south to the Big 12. After discussing the two top dogs from 2022, the TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats, and the up-and-coming Texas Longhorns, we now move onto the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Overview
2022 Results
- W vs. Murray State, 63-10
- W vs. (25) Houston, 33-30
- L @ (16) NC State, 14-27
- W vs. (22) Texas, 37-34
- L @ (25) Kansas State, 28-37
- L @ (7) Oklahoma State, 31-41
- W vs. West Virginia, 48-10
- L vs. Baylor, 17-45
- L @ (7) TCU, 24-34
- W vs Kansas, 43-28
- W @ Iowa State, 14-10
- W vs. Oklahoma, 51-48
- W vs. Ole Miss, 42-25 (Texas Bowl)
Overall Record: 8-5 (5-4)
2022 All-Big 12 Conference Members
- DL Tyree Wilson (First-Team)
- DB Malik Dunlap (Second-Team)
Recent Vikings Draft Picks
N/A
2023 Draft Selections
- R1, P7: EDGE Tyree Wilson (Las Vegas Raiders)
2023 Schedule
- 9/2 @ Wyoming
- 9/9 vs. Oregon
- 9/16 vs. Tarleton State
- 9/23 @ West Virginia
- 9/30 vs. Houston
- 10/7 @ Baylor
- 10/14 vs. Kansas State
- 10/21 @ BYU
- 11/2 vs. TCU
- 11/11 @ Kansas
- 11/18 vs. UCF
- 11/24 @ Texas
Notable Additions
- ATH Jordan Sanford (four-star recruit)
- ATH Anquan Willis (four-star recruit)
- WR Marquez Stevenson (four-star recruit)
- WR Deandre McCray (transfer portal, Austin Peay)
- OT Nick Fattig (four-star recruit)
- DL Quincy Ledet (transfer portal, Lousiana-Monroe)
- EDGE Isaiah Crawford (four-star recruit)
- EDGE Steve Linton (transfer portal, Syracuse)
- EDGE Terrell Tilmon (transfer portal, Oregon)
- S CJ Baskerville (transfer portal, San Diego State)
- S Brenden Jordan (four-star recruit)
Notable Losses
- QB Donovan Smith (transfer portal, Houston)
- OT Larry Moore (transfer portal, North Texas)
- OT Jack Tucker (transfer portal, Liberty)
- DL Philip Blidi (transfer portal, Indiana)
- DL Syncere Massey (transfer portal, Abilene Christian)
- EDGE Tyree Wilson (NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders)
- LB Derrick Lewis (transfer portal, Incarnate Word)
- S Kobee Minor (transfer portal, Indiana)
- S Reggie Pearson (transfer portal, Oklahoma)
Keys to 2023
Maintaining a Dynamic Offense
Texas Tech lost QB Donovan Smith to their conference-rival Houston Cougars, and that could prove to be a big loss to their offense after he completed 66.1% of his passes last season for 1505 yards and 12 TDs.
However, this team still has a ton of fire-power after a 2022 season in which they ranked second in the Big 12 with 461 yards per game. Their 34.2 points per game also led the conference last year. Their aggressive use of all four downs should put pressure on opposing defenses all season.
Who Replaces Tyree Wilson?
The Raiders have the uncoveted task of replacing a very productive pass-rusher like Tyree Wilson this year. The seventh overall pick in 2023 totaled 14 tackles for loss and 7 sacks over 10 games last year for Texas Tech.
However, the team still has plenty of produers on their defensive front. Both Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford return as fifth-year seniors after combining for seven sacks last year. Perhaps Isaiah Crawford gets some reps at edge this year in Wilson’s old spot, but they also have veteran transfers in Steve Linton and Terrell Tilmon.
Veteran Leadership Leads the Way
Overall, the biggest strength of this Texas Tech team is their veteran leadership. They return a ridiculous 14 starters from last season, their first 8-win campaign since 2013. The team will continue to rely on these players as they hope to contend for the Big 12 title in 2023.
Prediction
- W @ Wyoming
- L vs. Oregon
- W vs. Tarleton State
- W @ West Virginia
- W vs. Houston
- W @ Baylor
- W vs. Kansas State
- L @ BYU
- L vs. TCU
- W @ Kansas
- W vs. UCF
- L @ Texas
Overall Record: 8-4 (6-3)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.