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Freshman already establishing himself as potential Texas Tech football starter
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- Freshman already establishing himself as potential Texas Tech football starter
The Texas Tech football team is in need of a few good men to step up and become go-to guys on the defensive line .
Head coach Joey McGuire said Tuesday one name has already emerged among the group: redshirt freshman Jayden Cofield .
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Coming off the team's first full practice with pads, McGuire gave a quick rundown of the team compete periods, which pit the top offensive and defensive players against each other. With a longer field of play, the offense came through, but when the Red Raiders moved into short-yardage and goal-line situations, it was the defense that came out on top.
"Jayden Cofield was dominant during that period," McGuire said, "which is good to see a redshirt freshman play like that."
More: Why De'Braylon Carroll equates Texas Tech football team to being a member of Power Rangers
Cofield stood out almost immediately, McGuire said. According to McGuire, the 6-foot-2, 305-pounder burst through and made a tackle on all-conference running back, and fellow Manor native, Tahj Brooks . McGuire made a quick observation to defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch.
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"I told Z if we were playing a game right now, he'd be one of the starters," McGuire said of Cofield. "He'd go out with the first group."
Cofield is one of nine interior linemen on the defense looking to establish more playing time with the departures of Tony Bradford and Jaylon Hutchings. Elder statesmen like Quincy Ledet Jr. and De'Braylon Carroll, who transferred from Rice , are names McGuire has floated as potential leaders before camp.
Since camp opened a week ago, though, it's been Cofield that's made the biggest impression.
Cofield appeared in three games last season to maintain his redshirt status, one of which was the Independence Bowl game against Cal.
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"I think him being a mid-year, him really coming on at the end of the year, being able to play in the bowl game, and he had a great spring," McGuire said. "I think he's doing a really good job."
Texas Tech's Jayden Cofield attends a spring football practice, Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Sports Performance Center.
Trevon McAlpine injury update
While Cofield has made a name for himself in camp, one of his fellow defensive linemen is on the mend.
Trevon McAlpine, the 6-foot-3, 300 pound sophomore, suffered a high ankle sprain after landing on the leg of offensive lineman Caleb Rogers during a punt shell drill, McGuire said.
"We got real lucky," McGuire said. "We were worried it was a break and it wasn't.
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McGuire said McAlpine suffered the injury in the team's second day of practice and has been running in the pool. It's expected he'll be able to run on land either Thursday or Friday and is about a week way from returning to action.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jayden Cofield making noise for Texas Tech football in practice
