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What Joey McGuire sees in Texas Tech football's running backs, offensive line after scrimmage
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- What Joey McGuire sees in Texas Tech football's running backs, offensive line after scrimmage
Replacing Tahj Brooks , Texas Tech football's all-time leading rusher and do-everything running back, isn't an easy task and Joey McGuire isn't handing that responsibility to any one player.
In fact, the Texas Tech head coach has been adamant on one thing since spring camp: the Red Raiders will take a by-committee approach in the backfield, and all three backs bring something to the table.
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USC transfer Quinten Joyner joins returners J'Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey in McGuire's envisioned three-headed monster next to quarterback Behren Morton . Joyner was one of the key acquisitions out of the transfer portal while Williams and Dickey each had moments to shine for Texas Tech in 2024.
Coming off the team's first scrimmage in preparation for the anticipated 2025 season, McGuire was quick to tout the backfield as a position group that stood out on Saturday.
"Man, we got running backs," McGuire said. "If you said what is the biggest highlight on the offensive side of the ball is us being able to run the football. We have got three really good running backs."
McGuire noted that Williams found the end zone during a red zone lockout drill late in the scrimmage while Dickey and Joyner each had big runs against the new-look defense. Redshirt freshman Adam Hill also had his moments as McGuire expects the Albany grad to contribute on special teams.
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Rather than try and separate the three sophomores from each other, McGuire says all three will get their chances to contribute to the offense.
"Whenever I look at them," McGuire said, "I see a home run hitter in J'Koby. I see a guy, (Quinten), great vision. He's really, really, like, effortless. It's almost like waves, how he moves. And then Cam Dickey just runs angry, like he's a ball of fury."
McGuire said he the team likes to call Dickey a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle for the way he's built, "just a ball of muscle" in the backfield.
The three backs haven't just impressed the head coach. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez gets to see Tech's offense on a daily basis and agrees with McGuire's assessment of the position group.
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"They're all three-down backs," Rodriguez said. "All of them could take the entire drive. There's nobody that comes in to do a certain thing. They all break tackles. They're all shifty. They're all quick. They all can put their head down and run. I'm very, very excited to see what happens with this running back battle as we go forward."
Offensive line impresses down 3 projected starters in scrimmage
Running back isn't the only position where McGuire thinks the Red Raiders have great depth. Transfer portal additions make up the majority of the projected starting offensive line. Added to the returning pieces, there are options for Texas Tech to protect Morton and block for Joyner, Williams and Dickey in the run game.
Saturday's scrimmage, though, saw the Red Raiders down three of those projected starters. Tackle Hunter Zambrano (lower back) and guard Vinny Sciury (intestinal) missed most of the week's practices, though McGuire said each could be back as early as Monday. Fellow guard Davion Carter was an excused absence for the scrimmage as he went through the graduation ceremony Saturday.
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Tech's starting offensive line for the scrimmage, McGuire said: left tackle Howard Sampson (6-foot-8, 340 pounds), left guard Will Jados (6-7, 305), center Sheridan Wilson (6-5, 300), right guard Daniel Sill (6-5, 310) and right tackle Jacob Ponton (6-8, 305). The group showed McGuire the depth will be a benefit.
"I think one thing is that some of our strengths is the guys really come off the ball with size," McGuire said. "... We had some big, massive humans that were moving some people."
One of the wrinkles to offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich's offense is the use of screen plays, which allowed the line to show its speed in space.
"In the screen game, our o-line gets after it," receiver Coy Eakin said. "There's no complaining. There's no, oh, we have to do another screen. It's like, alright, I'm gonna get up and get this block for my teammate so we can go get the ball down the field."
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Who scored touchdowns in Texas Tech football 's scrimmage?
Media were not allowed to watch Texas Tech's scrimmage on Saturday, so McGuire offered a scoring breakdown.
Receiver Reggie Virgil, Micah Hudson and Leyton Stone all found the end zone on plays in the red zone. Quarterback Will Hammond had a short scoring run. William's touchdown run was around 20 yards.
The defense came away with three takeaways: a forced fumble by Rodriguez, which was recovered by Cole Wisniewski, and interceptions for John Curry and Tarrion Grant.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Offensive line impresses Joey McGuire in Texas Tech football scrimmage
