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Texas Tech Football: 2025 Red Raiders Season Preview and Prediction
Texas Tech Football: 2025 Red Raiders Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Expectations for Texas Tech are significantly higher than ever before. There is complete buy-in from the coaching staff and donors, evidenced by the multi-million dollar roster investment through The Matador Club NIL collective, along with the recently opened $242 million Womble Football Center. Joey McGuire's seat is far from hot, but the pressure is certainly going to be ramped up to extremes from the media and fans alike, who are asking this one question: If not now, then when?
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[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
More Big 12 team previews:
Arizona | Arizona State | Baylor | BYU | Cincinnati
Colorado| Houston | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State
Oklahoma State | TCU | UCF | Utah | West Virginia
Texas Tech 2025 Season Preview and Prediction
Previewing Texas Tech's Offense for 2025
Former Texas State offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich assumes that same role for the Red Raiders. Leftwich believes that the Red Raiders will challenge defenses vertically with long-limbed receivers Caleb Douglas and Miami (Ohio) transfer Reggie Virgil.
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Head coach Joey McGuire is confident that a trio of transfers — North Carolina tackle Howard Sampson, Miami (Ohio) tackle Will Jados and FCS Illinois State guard/tackle Hunter Zambrano — can make up some ground for Tech in the O-line arms race.
A stable of running backs will attempt to replace the program's all-time leading rusher, Tahj Brooks. USC transfer Quinten Joyner rushed for 478 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Trojans, while J'Koby Williams showed twitch and speed unlike any seen in Lubbock in some time.
One of the few constants for the Red Raiders is signal-caller Behren Morton, the third-leading passer in the Big 12 last season.
Related: Ranking the Big 12 Coaches for 2025
Red Raiders WR Caleb Douglas Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Previewing Texas Tech's Defense for 2025
New defensive coordinator Shiel Wood's primary objective will be to transform a unit that struggled to stop explosive plays (132nd in pass defense) and generate pressure on the quarterback (99th in sacks). The Red Raiders return a couple of key contributors from last year — linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts. Together, the pair amassed 210 tackles and will be crucial leaders in Wood's revamped unit.
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Bolstering the line are a number of transfers — defensive tackles Lee Hunter (UCF) and Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois) and edge rushers Romello Height (Georgia Tech) and David Bailey (Stanford).
The Red Raiders also addressed their secondary via the portal, adding cornerbacks Brice Pollock (Mississippi State), Tarrion Grant (Purdue), Dontae Balfour (Charlotte) and Amier Boyd (UTEP) and safety Cole Wisniewski (FCS North Dakota State).
Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
Previewing Texas Tech's Specialists for 2025
The kicking duties appear to be secure with the addition of Upton Bellenfant (Buffalo), who converted 18-of-21 field-goal attempts and all 31 of his extra-point attempts last season. Australian senior punter Jack Burgess averaged 42 yards per punt last year. Replacing Drae McCray's return prowess will be a collaborative effort.
National Ranking: 22
More Big 12 team previews:
Arizona | Arizona State | Baylor | BYU | Cincinnati
Colorado| Houston | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State
Oklahoma State | TCU | UCF | Utah | West Virginia
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Related: Big 12 Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025
Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
