10 key Texas Tech players to know in 2024, including Doak Walker candidate Tahj Brooks (2024)

Texas Tech is primed for Year 3 under head coach Joey McGuire where the Red Raiders hope to possess a more dynamic offense compared to the last two seasons under McGuire and offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Tech’s defense will also be anchored by some strong returning players this season, helping mentor the developing youth that will play a key role this season.

Here are ten key players for the Red Raiders in 2024:

1. Tahj Brooks

2023 Stats: 290 carries, 1,541 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns

Brooks enters the 2024 season for his final ride with the Red Raiders with a chance to re-write the history books, just 1,167 yards off of Byron Hanspard’s all-time Texas Tech rushing record. A year after being the heart and soul of the Tech offense, Brooks looks to ride off into the sunset with another excellent season to wrap up his five-year career as a Red Raider.

2. Behren Morton

2023 Stats: 182/293, 1,754 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, eight interceptions

Morton enters the season as the starting quarterback for the first time in his career after playing significant snaps for the Red Raiders in both 2022 and 2023. After dealing with a shoulder injury for all of 2023, Morton will look to stay healthy and lead the Red Raiders to another winning season under McGuire.

3. Josh Kelly

2023 Stats (Washington State): 61 receptions, 923 receiving yards, eight receiving touchdowns

Kelly is the prized receiver from the transfer portal for Texas Tech after posting strong numbers in 2023 with Washington State. Kelly is a shifty, experienced receiver who can play anywhere within the offense for the Red Raiders, bringing a different type of explosiveness to the Red Raider offense compared to last season.

4. Micah Hudson

2023 Stats: n/a

Hudson is the first five-star to ever sign with Texas Tech. The freshman out of Temple-Lake Belton will provide immediate impact for the Red Raiders despite his youth and rehabilitation of a knee injury that held him out of spring camp. Hudson is an extremely advanced player with the capacity to play inside and outside, but will primarily make an impact in the slot to open his Tech career.

5. Jalin Conyers

2023 Stats (Arizona State): 30 receptions, 362 receiving yards

Originally from Gruver, Conyers is back in West Texas for his final season in college football after stops at Oklahoma and Arizona State. Conyers is a dynamic receiving tight end who will have the chance to reconnect with a childhood friend in Morton after a down season with the Sun Devils.

6. Vinny Sciury

2023 Stats (Toledo): Two sacks allowed, nine pressures allowed in 851 snaps.

Sciury is an experienced left guard who will anchor Tech’s revamped offensive line, coming into Lubbock and taking the starting spot. Sciury is a scheme fit into the Red Raiders’ running scheme, excelling at pulling and blocking in space in gap run schemes, the scheme that has been employed by Tech under McGuire.

7. CJ Baskerville

2023 Stats: 77 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions

Baskerville is the lone returning piece to the Red Raider secondary, looking to help replace the leadership void left by now-Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the 2024 season. Baskerville will have the chance to settle into his natural position of boundary safety after moving around in his first season as a Red Raider in 2023.

8. Bralyn Lux

2023 Stats: 38 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception

Lux is the top returning corner from last season, taking the second most snaps of the position, trailing just Malik Dunlap. A physical corner who flashed some really strong attributes in the 2023 season, Lux looks to lead a young group at the position in his final season of college football.

9. Jacob Rodriguez

2023 Stats: 30 tackles, two pass deflections, one interception, two forced fumbles

Rodriguez was primed to anchor the Tech linebacking corps in 2023 but saw it all go away after suffering a broken leg in the season opening loss against Wyoming. Rodriguez returned late in 2023 and helped Tech to a bowl berth and will have the chance to reclaim his leadership role in the room in 2024.

10. Ben Roberts

2023 Stats: 105 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles

Roberts significantly helped reduce the blow of losing Rodriguez, stepping up as a starter against Oregon in 2023, leading to a freshman all-American campaign. During the season, Roberts posted over 100 tackles, the only freshman linebacker to surpass the total in the country and will look to create a dynamic duo with Rodriguez in 2024.

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