Key Departures: Possibly Da’Leon Ward
Key Additions: Desmond Nisby
In 2014 and 2015, former Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington ran for back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons, marking the first time a Red Raider had accomplished the feat in over a decade. Washington was subsequently drafted by the Oakland Raiders and played a complementary role during his rookie season in 2016.
His production in Lubbock proved tough to duplicate after his departure. The leading rusher in the Texas Tech backfield last year was true freshman Da’Leon Ward with 428 yards. His longest carry of the season was just 15 yards, and he never topped 100 yards in a single game.
Texas Tech RB Justin Stockton (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
Laying the blame at the feet of the freshman would be unfair, however. The offensive line play was below average and Ward was only thrust into the starting lineup after Justin Stockton and DeMarcus Felton forfeited the job due to a combination of injuries and poor performance.
What’s worse for Texas Tech heading into 2017 is that the running back position doesn’t seem to have gained any clarity during the offseason. If anything, the picture is blurrier than ever.
The aforementioned Ward seemed to be in a good spot heading into his sophomore year. He got more playing time than most true freshmen do and had clearly earned the confidence of the coaching staff to remain the work horse for the second half of last season.
However, he may not even be part of the team when the season rolls around. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced that Ward would sit out the first week of fall camp while he tried to get his academic situation in order. Three weeks later, Ward’s status is still up in the air and even if he rejoins the team before the season starts, he will be behind other backs in terms of reps taken.
Texas Tech RB Demarcus Felton (Photo via Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)
There’s still some hope for the backfield. Kingsbury has consistently praised the play of senior Justin Stockton throughout fall camp. Stockton has always showed flashes and been perceived as a home run threat rather than an every down back. Even if he’s improved as Kingsbury has suggested, it’s likely Tech will take a running back by committee approach.
That’s where DeMarcus Felton and Desmond Nisby come in. Felton is arguably the most balanced running back of the bunch. A junior, he showed good vision in 2016 and had some solid outings but wasn’t consistently in the lineup due to injuries. If he can stay healthy in 2017 he may very well wind up as the lead back.
Nisby is a JUCO transfer who just arrived in Lubbock this summer. He’s a powerful, bruising running back who adds an element that will complement his relatively undersized counterparts on the depth chart. If nothing else, Nisby will be used as a short yardage back. Whether he can catch the ball out of the backfield and protect in the pass game remains to be seen, so it’s unclear how big his share of the overall workload will be.
Outlook: Fair
Ultimately, whether Ward returns this season or not, Texas Tech will rotate through a lot of these guys and can tailor personnel packages based on their varying playing styles. It’s hard to view this unit as a strength for this team, but their overall play should be improved from last year. None of these guys will be expected to produce what DeAndre Washington did in 2014 and 2015 but as a unit they can be adequate.
Four or 4.5 yards per carry doesn’t seem unreasonable, and would be a significant improvement over their dismal 3.2 in 2016. A little more balance on the offensive side of the ball will go a long way in keeping opposing defenses on their heels and not just committing all their resources to stopping the pass.
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