A RED RAIDER RESURGENCE?
Coordinator Cumbie’s return and the addition of Oregon transfer quarterback Shough could provide a needed spark for the offense
Who’s the new guy at QB?
Tyler Shough started every game for an Oregon team that won the Pac-12 last fall. He led the conference in yards per completion (14.7), yards per pass attempt (9.34) and passing efficiency (160.4). An Arizona native, he opted for the transfer portal and landed in Lubbock where he will have two years of eligibility left. At Oregon, Shough showed he had the arm strength for the deep ball and the ability to move in the pocket. One of 10 players added via transfer, he could be what new offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie, who moved back to Lubbock after a successful run at TCU, is looking for.
What’s up at running back?
SaRodorick Thompson, just a junior, has led the Red Raiders in rushing his first two seasons (the first to do that since DeAndre Washington) but hurt his shoulder in the spring game. While expectations are that Thompson, a strong back with surprising speed, is back at full strength, the Red Raiders have another option at Xavier White as part of a deep backfield. White, a former walkon as a wide receiver from Lubbock Monterey via Dodge City Community College, transitioned to running back last season and was second on the team in rushing, picking up 436 yards on 62 carries.
Is Sonny Cumbie the answer on offense?
The Red Raiders scored less than 30 points per game for the
first time since 2000 and that won’t cut it in the Big 12. Enter (or return) Sonny Cumbie as offensive coordinator. When he left Kliff Kingsbury’s staff to go to
TCU in 2014, it was a chance for Cumbie to escape Kingsbury’s shadow and run his own offense.
The Horned Frogs had early success but slipped in recent years. Back in Lubbock, replacing David Yost, Cumbie has been given free rein by defensive-minded head coach Matt Wells. The defense has nine starters back so the pressure will be on the other side of the ball.
A parting gift for Texas?
While we don’t really know when the last games will be played by Texas and OU in the Big 12, the Red Raiders will get the
first shot at the Longhorns, who have announced their plans to leave for the SEC. The game will be Sept. 25 in Austin, and while all the Big 12 schools would like to beat Texas, the Red Raiders have some extra incentive. Last season, they led Texas by 15 points with 3:13 to go and fell apart and lost 63-56 in overtime. A win in Austin would make Tech feel a lot better.
How safe is Matt Wells as head coach?
He’s 8-14 in two seasons since being hired from Utah State to replace Kliff Kingsbury, who it might be noted was fired with two years left on his contract after three consecutive sub-.500 seasons. While last season comes with an asterisk for most everyone because of the pandemic, they can get restless out in West Texas where the Air Raid days of Mike Leach or the home-spun days of Spike Dykes are getting lost in a dust storm. The Red Raiders have finished eighth and ninth in the Big 12 under Wells. Three of last season’s four wins were by a field goal or less, including 35-33 over HBU.