2002 Statistics

written by Ryan Hockensmith

Quarterback B.J. Symons takes over an offense that runs on automatic. The coaching is so good that a qualified QB can easily adjust and pick up right where the previous QB stopped. Such is the case for how smooth the transition should go for this year's offense.

Symons has waited three years for this chance. As Kingsbury's back-up since 2000, Symons knows every facet of the offense. The only thing lacking is game experience, but he should be fine. He has a cannon for an arm and throws the football so hard that Leach expects receivers to have more time in their patterns before Symons lasers the ball to them. He easily can make the short-to-intermediate range throws at which Leach's offense is so great, and he has the smarts to manage a game well. The only worry is Symons' tendency to gamble on the deep routes. He can't afford any five-interception games if Tech is going to better last year's 9-5 mark. In the final spring scrimmage, he peppered Tech's first-string defense for 19-of-24, 218 yards and no interceptions. Back-up Sonny Cumbie played on the scout team last year, but rolled up 256 yards on 15-of-17 passing in the last scrimmage. He's a capable back-up and could see time early if Symons proves unworthy.

The Tech offense boasts a very good receiving corps. Starter Carlos Francis said the top four - him, Wes Welker, Nehemiah Glover and Mickey Peters - might be the best in the country. That's a stretch, but they are as talented as any foursome in I-A. The four combined in 2002 for 252 catches, 3,108 yards and 32 touchdowns. That's confidence coaches pray one player has, but four?! If they can get an encore performance, (and Tech believes all four should be improved) the quarterbacks will be fine. At 6'3", 211 pounds, Peters is the most prototypical of the receivers. Francis stands 5'10", 197 pounds, Welker goes 5'9", 190, and Glover is 5'8", 174, but all are slippery targets for nickel backs to trace.

Leach isn't exactly Joe Paterno with the running game, but main back Taurean Henderson is a multi-threat danger sure to be utilized. He rushed for almost 800 yards. But even better is how he snuck into the secondary for 98 catches. Henderson, only a sophomore, has a ceiling he hasn't come anywhere close to yet.

With the sneaky running game and quick releases in the passing game, Tech doesn't need five Orlando Paces up front to move the ball. But the Red Raiders have a solid bunch in upperclassmen Toby Cecil and Casey Keck, juniors Daniel Loper and Dylan Gandy and sophomore E.J. Whitley. The loss of three-year letterman guard Rex Richards hurts, though. The entire offensive machine looks stable with these hogs solidly able to protect and destroy.

WR/PR Wes Welker

written by Ryan Hockensmith

New defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich emphasizes strong defensive line play. With only one starter back in the trenches, Setencich has plenty to keep him busy. He's installing a new system, with Tech's top two defensive players gone from a unit that gave up 400 yards and 31 points per game. The departures could prove to be a blessing in disguise if all fares well with the changes.

Along the defensive line, only DE Adell Duckett is back. He needs to improve on his five sacks if this line is to get the productive leader desired. His veteran presence and backfield push are vital. At the other end, Randall Cherry stands out as the primary replacement candidate for productive senior Aaron Hunt. Cherry had six tackles and one sack in 2002, but with an athletic 6'3", 262-pound former linebacker frame, he has the tools to cause some havoc across from Duckett. Inside, massive sophomore Fred Thrweatt (6'3", 333) had five tackles in 10 games. Redshirt freshman Ken Scott should contribute at the other spot. Whoever's in the middle will have one function: keep linemen occupied. There just isn't enough talent or experience to ask this group to dominate or be a factor pressuring the quarterback up the middle.

Junior Mike Smith will be expected to anchor their decent (but not spectacular) linebacker corps. Smith racked up 104 tackles and will have to gobble up ball carriers to offset the loss of departed tackling machine Lawrence Flugence (193 in 2002). Smith is smallish (6'2", 235), but big enough to fend off fullbacks and quick enough to get to and quickly through the line of scrimmage. On the other side, watch for sophomore John Saldi, MVP of the Tangerine Bowl, to develop. Saldi stands 6'5", is still adding to his 215-pound frame, and will only get better. Replacing Flugence, a worthy Butkus Candidate last fall, on the inside has basically become a battle between freshman. Yikes!

Standout free safety Ryan Aycock should have ample chances to better his 151 tackles. He's a former high school quarterback with the athleticism to hold up tight ends and stay with backs on pass routes. He'll sneak up to the line and bust through on blitzes, so OCs beware. Fellow senior Raymond Pierce returns along side Aycock, making for a solid and smart "last line of defense" for Texas Tech. Those two could be important run-defense helpers, with the assumption that the defensive line will struggle to occupy linemen. Aycock and Pierce could end up as semi-linebackers if that's the case. Sophomore defensive back Vincent Meeks hasn't settled anywhere yet, but he can't be on the bench. Meeks, with three interceptions a year ago, is too big a playmaker to be used as a nickel back.

On the outside, senior starters Ricky Sailor and Joselio Hanson are gone, leaving open competition for an inexperienced pool. Junior Ivory McCann saw time as a 2002 back-up on both sides of the field and will be relied upon to contribute. That's a major challenge for an inexperienced defensive back that stands 5'8", 161 pounds and had 10 tackles a year ago in limited action. Leach is hoping he'll see immediate dividends from his freshmen recruiting class, where he nabbed seven cornerbacks. If he can't sort out two solid starters and a few good reserves, Tech's offense is going to have a hard time keeping up with the opposition's numbers. Some man-to-man will be needed if the safeties are to slip into the box.

SS Ryan Aycock