The Texas Tech football program has released its game-week depth chart for the Saturday, Aug. 30, season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
It looks nearly identical to the depth chart coming out of spring with one exception: John Curry has worked his way into a starting job at Star, the combo outside linebacker/safety spot in the Red Raiders’ defense. The sophomore from Coronado continues to be listed as the top backup to Jacob Rodriguez at boundary inside linebacker, where he spent the spring.
“We’re a little banged up at safety,” Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “He’s got a high football IQ. He’s got a high care factor. … The one thing I was so impressed was him tackling in space and the way he committed to that position. You’re going to see him play both positions.”
The season-ending knee injury that running back Quinten Joyner suffered in the second scrimmage of camp made Tech coaches rethink the role for J’Koby Williams who, in addition to being a key running back, also was going to be first choice to return both punts and kickoffs. Now, with Williams being one of only two established running backs, Tech lists receiver Micah Hudson as the primary kickoff-return man and receiver Roy Alexander as the first choice to return punts.
Tech lists Johncarlos Miller II and Terrance Carter as co-starters at tight end, returning starter Maurion Horn and newcomer Amier Boyd as co-starters at one cornerback, and kickers Upton Bellenfant and Stone Harrington as co-first-team.
Tech began last season rotating kickers Gino Garcia and Reese Burkhardt, giving Garcia the first field-goal try and Burkhardt the second in each game. Eventually, coaches settled on Garcia.
McGuire said he’d “be shocked” if he goes more than the three non-conference games before settling on one this season, but said Harrington’s improvement has made it a competition. Bellenfant made 18 of 21 field goals last year with the University at Buffalo.
“Upton has a leg up on everybody,” McGuire said, “just from the standpoint of he’s done it at a high level in game situations, but we’re going to let those two go out and get after it.”
Offense
Wide receiver X
1 Reggie Virgil, 6-3, 190, Sr-Tr
14 Micah Hudson, 6-0, 200, So-1L
17 Leyton Stone, 6-3, 200, Fr-HS
11 Tyson Turner, 6-2, 215, Fr-RS
Inside receiver
3 Coy Eakin, 6-2, 210, Jr-2L
18 Roy Alexander, 5-11, 205, Sr-Tr
Or
6 Kelby Valsin, 6-1, 195, So-1L
13 Price Morgan, 5-11, 190, Jr-RS
Tight end
9 Johncarlos Miller II, 6-5, 240, Sr-1L
Or
7 Terrance Carter, 6-2, 247, Jr-Tr
89 Jason Llewellyn, 6-5, 255, Jr-1L
Wide receiver Z
5 Caleb Douglas, 6-4, 205, Sr-1L
4 T.J. West, 6-1, 195, So-Sq
85 Bryson Jones, 6-3, 190, Fr-HS
Left tackle
79 Howard Sampson, 6-8, 343, Jr-Tr
65 D’Anthis Upshaw Jr., 6-5, 305, Fr-RS
Left guard
76 Will Jados, 6-7, 305, Sr-Tr
71 Vinny Sciury, 6-4, 295, Sr-RS
Center
72 Sheridan Wilson, 6-5, 300, Jr-1L
56 Davion Carter, 6-0, 295, Sr-1L
50 Patrick McMath, 6-4, 285, Fr-HS
Right guard
56 Davion Carter, 6-0, 295, Sr-1L
74 Daniel Sill, 6-5, 310, So-Sq
61 Connor Carty, 6-4, 290, Fr-HS
Right tackle
70 Jacob Ponton, 6-8, 308, Fr-RS
57 Hunter Zambrano, 6-5, 310, Sr-Tr
Quarterback
2 Behren Morton, 6-2, 210, Sr-3L
15 Will Hammond, 6-2, 210, Fr-RS
12 Mitch Griffis, 6-0, 195, Sr-Tr
Running back
8 Cameron Dickey, 5-10, 215, So-1L
Or
20 J’Koby Williams, 5-10, 185, So-1L
23 Adam Hill, 6-1, 230, Fr-RS
Defense
Field end/outside linebacker
31 David Bailey, 6-3, 250, Sr-Tr
11 Charles Esters III, 6-3, 270, Sr-2L
94 Braylon Rigsby, 6-2, 275, So-1L
Noseguard
2 Lee Hunter, 6-4, 330, Sr-Tr
51 Jayden Cofield, 6-2, 330, So-1L
8 Dooda Banks, 6-5, 300, Sr-2L
Defensive tackle
0 Skyler Gill-Howard, 6-1, 290, Sr-Tr
33 A.J. Holmes, 6-3, 300, Jr-Tr
8 Dooda Banks, 6-5, 300, Sr-2L
Boundary end/outside linebacker
9 Romello Height, 6-3, 240, Sr-Tr
18 Terrell Tilmon, 6-5, 240, Sr-2L
32 Cheta Ofili, 6-4, 240, Fr-RS
Field inside linebacker
13 Ben Roberts, 6-3, 241, Jr-2L
3 Bryce Ramirez, 6-2, 235, Sr-3L
41 Brock Golwas, 6-1, 235, Fr-HS
Boundary inside linebacker
10 Jacob Rodriguez, 6-1, 235, Sr-2L
6 John Curry, 6-2, 235, So-1L
40 Wesley Smith, 5-10, 220, Jr-2L
34 Trent Low, 6-1, 220, Sr-2L
Star outside linebacker/safety
6 John Curry, 6-2, 235, So-1L
1 A.J. McCarty, 6-0, 195, Sr-1L
Or
21 Mike Dingle, 6-2, 225, So-1L
Cornerback
14 Brice Pollock, 6-0, 195, Jr-Tr
20 Dontae Balfour, 6-1, 185, Sr-Tr
23 Tarrion Grant, 6-2, 190, So-Tr
Field safety
7 Brenden Jordan, 6-0, 205, Jr-2L
15 Oliver Miles III, 6-2, 190, Fr-RS
17 Peyton Morgan, 6-0, 180, Fr-RS
Boundary safety
5 Cole Wisniewski, 6-4, 220, Sr-Tr
24 Malik Esquerra, 6-3, 205, Fr-RS
39 Luke Dillingham, 6-1, 205, Sr-Sq
Cornerback
27 Amier Boyd, 6-2, 190, Jr-Tr
Or
4 Maurion Horn, 5-11, 190, Jr-2L
16 Ashton Hampton, 6-0, 170, Fr-RS
Special teams
Kicker
27 Upton Bellenfant, 6-1, 190, Jr-Tr
Or
48 Stone Harrington, 6-3, 200, Jr-1L
37 Ian Hershey, 5-11, 190, Jr-Tr
Punter
41 Jack Burgess, 6-3, 210, Sr-1L
37 Ian Hershey, 5-11, 190, Jr-Tr
Deep snapper
47 Rylan Vagana, 6-0, 215, Fr-RS
89 Jason Llewellyn, 6-5, 255, Jr-1L
19 Hayton Wiginton, 5-11, 190, Sr-1L
Kickoff
48 Stone Harrington, 6-3, 200, Jr-1L
Holder
41 Jack Burgess, 6-3, 210, Sr-1L
2 Behren Morton, 6-2, 210, Sr-3L
19 Hayton Wiginton, 5-11, 190, Sr-1L
Kickoff return
14 Micah Hudson, 6-0, 200, So-1L
20 J’Koby Williams, 5-10, 185, So-1L
21 Tristian Gentry, 6-0, 180, Fr-HS
Punt return
18 Roy Alexander, 5-11, 205, Sr-Tr
20 J’Koby Williams, 5-10, 185, So-1L
21 Tristian Gentry, 6-0, 180, Fr-HS
13 Price Morgan, 5-11, 190, Jr-RS
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football unveils game-week depth chart for Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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