The 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Red Raiders play their home games at the Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, and compete in the Big 12 Conference. With a 41–38 win over Iowa State on November 13, Texas Tech became bowl eligible for the first time since the 2017 season. The team finished the season with an overall record of 7–6 for the Red Raiders' first winning season since 2015.
The team was led by third-year head coach Matt Wells for the first eight games. Wells was fired on October 25, with offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie being named interim head coach. Baylor associate head coach/outside linebackers coach Joey McGuire was named as Texas Tech's 17th head coach on November 8; Cumbie continued to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. On November 24, McGuire announced that he would be retaining Cumbie as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. However, on November 30, it was announced that Cumbie would become the head coach at Louisiana Tech; Cumbie would coach Texas Tech for its bowl game.
Following the regular season, kicker Jonathan Garibay was elected to the All-Big 12 Football First Team, while wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, offensive lineman Dawson Deaton, linebacker Colin Schooler, defensive back DaMarcus Fields, and punter Austin McNamara were selected to the second team.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Chuck Bednarik AwardColin SchoolerLBSRMaxwell AwardErik EzukanmaWRJRDoak Walker AwardSaRodorick ThompsonRBJRFred Biletnikoff Award Erik EzukanmaWRJRKaylon GeigerWRSRRimington TrophyDawson DeatonOLSRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardTyler ShoughQBJRRay Guy AwardAustin McNamaraPJRLou Groza AwardJonathan GaribayPKSR
Big 12 media days The Big 12 Media Days were held on July 14–15, 2021 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech was represented by head coach Matt Wells, offensive lineman Dawson Deaton, and linebacker Riko Jeffers.
Big 12 media poll Big 12 media poll 1 Oklahoma 386 (35) 2 Iowa State 351 (4) 3 Texas 273 4 Oklahoma State 266 5 TCU 255 6 West Virginia 185 7 Kansas State 163 8 Baylor 124 9 Texas Tech 103 10 Kansas 39
Preseason All-Big 12 team The 2021 Preseason All-Big 12 Team was announced on July 7, with three Texas Tech players being selected. 1stErik EzukanmaWRJR2ndDawson DeatonOLSR1stAustin McNamaraPSR
Schedule
Schedule source:
Coaching staff Name Position Year at Texas Tech Alma mater Matt Wells Head coach 3rd Utah State Sonny Cumbie Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1st Texas Tech Keith Patterson Defensive coordinator 3rd East Central Derek Jones Co-defensive coordinator/secondary 2nd Mississippi Mark Tommerdahl Special teams coordinator/Assistant Offensive Line 3rd Concordia Kevin Cosgrove Linebackers 2nd Wisconsin–Oshkosh Steve Farmer Offensive line 3rd Illinois State Joel Filani Outside Receivers 3rd Texas Tech Paul Randolph Defensive line 3rd Tennessee Martin DeAndre Smith Running backs 3rd Southwest Missouri State Luke Wells Tight Ends/Inside Receivers 3rd Oklahoma Dave Scholz Strength and conditioning 3rd Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Roster 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders Football RosterQuarterbacks 2 Behren Morton – freshman (6'3, 185) 3 Henry Colombi – senior (6'2, 205) 7 Donovan Smith – freshman (6'5, 215) 8 Maverick McIvor – sophomore (6'3, 215) 12 Tyler Shough – junior (6'5, 220) 17 Parker McNeil – junior (6'5, 235)
Running backs 4 SaRodorick Thompson – junior (6'0, 210) 5 Chadarius Townsend – senior (6'0, 200) 14 Xavier White – junior (5'11, 190) 23 Kyron Cumby – sophomore (5'8, 180) 27 Cam'Ron Valdez – freshman (5'9, 195) 28 Tahj Brooks – sophomore (5'10, 215) 33 Ronnie Hart – sophomore (6'0, 205)
Wide receivers 10 Kaylon Geiger – senior (5'10, 180) 11 McLane Mannix – senior (5'10, 190) 13 Erik Ezukanma – junior (6'3, 220) 18 Myles Price – sophomore (5'10, 175) 19 Loic Fouonji – sophomore (6'4, 205) 22 Sterling Galban – junior (5'11, 175) 24 Cole Kirkpatrick – freshman (6'0, 185) 29 Ben Gair – freshman (6'1, 195) 32 Jake Bishop – sophomore (5'7, 175) 45 Austin Brougham – junior (6'2, 195) 47 Jalen McCoslin – freshman (6'0, 180) 82 Nehemiah Martinez – freshman (5'9, 185) 83 Cameron Cantrell – sophomore (6'1, 195) 84 J. J. Sparkman – freshman (6'4, 215) 85 Trey Cleveland – sophomore (6'4, 190) 86 Dalton Rigdon – senior (5'11, 170) 89 Jerand Bradley – freshman (6'5, 210)
Tight ends 15 Travis Koontz – senior (6'5, 255) 26 Jason Lloyd – sophomore (6'4, 240) 41 Jayden York – freshman (6'3, 215) 43 Henry Teeter – junior (6'4, 230) 80 Mason Tharp – freshman (6'8, 230) 88 Jed Castles – freshman (6'7, 225)
Long snappers 30 Jackson Knotts – freshman (5'11, 185) 61 Jacob Mauch – sophomore (6'3, 220) 62 Hayden Welte – sophomore (6'5, 220)
Offensive linemen 50 Josh Burger – senior (6'4, 295) 51 T. J. Storment – senior (6'7, 325) 53 Trevor Roberson – sophomore (6'11, 345) 57 Blake Spence – freshman (6'1, 255) 58 Jack Tucker – freshman (6'7, 285) 63 Aaron Castro – sophomore (6'3, 295) 64 Clayton Franks – junior (6'4, 290) 65 Tay Yanta – freshman (6'4, 350) 66 Matt Keeler – freshman (6'6, 295) 67 Blake Burris – freshman (6'3, 300) 68 Casey Verhulst – senior (6'6, 305) 69 Caleb Rodkey – freshman (6'4, 300) 70 Weston Wright – junior (6'6, 315) 71 Brett Canis – freshman (6'6, 315) 72 Landon Peterson – sophomore (6'6, 300) 73 Dawson Deaton – senior (6'6, 310) 74 Larry Moore – freshman (6'6, 290) 75 Jacoby Jackson – freshman (6'6, 330) 76 Caleb Rogers – sophomore (6'5, 290) 77 Ethan Carde – junior (6'8, 315) 79 Jacob Votaw – freshman (6'5, 265)
Defensive linemen 19 Tyree Wilson – junior (6'6, 280) 43 Jake Justice – sophomore (6'6, 210) 49 Charles Esters III – freshman (6'3, 245) 51 Robert Wooten – sophomore (6'3, 240) 59 Isaac Smith – freshman (6'6, 240) 78 Alexander Poole – senior (6'1, 305) 90 Devin Drew – senior (6'2, 280) 91 Nelson Mbanasor – senior (6'3, 275) 92 L. B. Moore – freshman (6'3, 240) 93 Troy Te'o – senior (6'2, 280) 94 Tre'Jon Lewis – sophomore (6'4, 250) 95 Jaylon Hutchings – junior (6'0, 300) 96 Philip Blidi – sophomore (6'4, 275) 97 Tony Bradford Jr. – junior (6'1, 290) 98 E'Maurion Banks – freshman (6'5, 295) 99 Gilbert Ibeneme – sophomore (6'3, 285)
Placekickers 36 Trey Wolff – junior (6'4, 205) 46 Jonathan Garibay – senior (6'0, 215) 60 Landon Reeves – junior (5'9, 155) Linebackers 1 Krishon Merriweather – senior (6'0, 240) 2 Brandon Bouyer-Randle – senior (6'2, 235) 6 Riko Jeffers – senior (6'2, 235) 16 Jesiah Pierre – sophomore (6'2, 245) 17 Colin Schooler – senior (6'1, 230) 20 Kosi Eldridge – senior (6'1, 225) 24 Jacob Morgenstern – senior (6'4, 230) 32 Tyrique Matthews – junior (5'11, 220) 33 Matthew Young – senior (6'1, 240) 34 Bryce Robinson – sophomore (6'0, 230) 35 Patrick Curley – junior (6'2, 235) 39 Charles Robinson – freshman (6'0, 230) 42 Gage Elder – freshman (5'11, 215) 47 Ethan Frasier – sophomore (6'1, 230) 48 Derrick Lewis II – freshman (6'1 205) 50 Trent Low – freshman (6'1, 205) 54 Bryce Ramirez – sophomore (6'0, 220) 56 Jackson Baggett – sophomore (6'3, 220)
Defensive backs 0 Seth Collins – senior (6'3, 200) 3 Kobee Minor – freshman (6'0, 190) 7 Adrian Frye – senior (6'0, 190) 8 Malik Dunlap – junior (6'3, 215) 9 Marquis Waters – senior (6'1, 200) 10 Cam White – junior (6'1, 200) 11 Eric Monroe – senior (5'11, 205) 12 Rayshad Williams – junior (6'2, 190) 15 Cole Boyd – sophomore (6'3, 200) 21 Cameron Watts – junior (5'10, 195) 22 Reggie Pearson Jr. – junior (5'11, 200) 23 DaMarcus Fields – senior (6'0, 200) 25 Dadrion Taylor-Demerson – junior (5'11, 190) 28 Louis Ortiz – freshman (5'11, 195) 29 Nate Floyd – freshman (6'0, 175) 31 Joseph Plunk – freshman (5'10, 165) 37 Imari Jones – freshman (6'1, 165) 38 Jett Whitfield – sophomore (5'11, 200) 40 Luis Jaramillo – sophomore (6'0, 185) 41 Joe Shaw – freshman (5'10, 165) 45 Chief Collins – freshman (5'11, 190) 46 Jonathan Davis – freshman (6'1, 170)
Punters 31 Austin McNamara – junior (6'4, 185) 48 Grant Nickel – freshman (6'0, 160)
Game summaries
Vs. Houston (Texas Kickoff)
This was Texas Tech's second appearance in the Texas Kickoff game, with the team's first appearance being a 27–47 loss to Ole Miss in 2018.
Houston received the opening kickoff, starting the drive at its own 25-yard line. The Cougars would drive down the field, capping the drive off with a 1-yard run from Clayton Tune. On the ensuing kickoff, Houston attempted an onside kick and recovered it. The Cougars would score another touchdown, this time with a 23-yard pass from Tune to Tank Dell to go up 14–0 following Dalton Witherspoon's kick. The Cougars would kick it off this time, giving Texas Tech's offense its first drive of the game. The Red Raiders made it down to the Houston 2-yard line, but running back Xavier White fumbled the ball and was recovered by Donavan Mutin for Houston. Houston would go three-and-out on its next drive, punting the ball away. On the next play, running back Tahj Brooks ripped off a 41-yard run for a touchdown. On the Cougars' following offensive play, Tune was intercepted by Reggie Pearson Jr.
After being down 7–21 at halftime, Texas Tech scored 31 unanswered points in the 2nd half for a 38–21 victory. The Red Raiders' defense picked off Houston quarterback Clayton Tune four times, including a pick six touchdown.
Stephen F. Austin
The Red Raiders took an early 7–0 lead, but the Lumberjacks scored 13 unanswered points for a 13–7 halftime lead. Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks scored two touchdowns in the 3rd to go up 21–13. Stephen F. Austin quickly responded, with Trae Self throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Bray Young in the opening seconds of the 4th quarter, but the two-point conversion to tie the game failed. The Red Raiders would respond on their next drive with a 4-yard touchdown run from Xavier White to extend their lead to 28–19. The Lumberjacks would respond with a 36-yard field goal from kicker Chris Campos to trail 22–28. Texas Tech failed to do anything on its next possession, going three-and-out and punted the ball away. Stephen F. Austin made it to the Texas Tech 7-yard line with just over a minute left in the game, but failed to convert on 4th down. The Red Raiders kneeled down twice to end the game, winning 28–22.
Texas Tech committed four turnovers in the game while Stephen F. Austin had zero. Tyler Shough threw two interceptions, including a pick six, and also lost a fumble; wide receiver McClane Mannix also lost a fumble. The Lumberjacks had possession of the ball for 40:07, going 5-of-21 on 3rd downs, 5-of-8 on 4th downs, and had 375 yards of total offense. The Red Raiders only held on to the ball for 19:53, going 5-of-10 on 3rd downs, 0-of-1 on 4th downs, and had 364 yards of total offense.
FIU
The two teams punted on their first possessions before FIU scored a touchdown on its second possession with a 3-yard run from D'vonte Price. The Panthers' following drive ended with a punt, but a miscue from the Red Raiders' special teams gave the ball back to FIU at the Texas Tech 38-yard line. On the next play, Marquise Waters intercepted a Max Bortenschlager pass and returned it 72 yards for a pick six. FIU made it to the Texas Tech 14-yard line on its next drive, helped by two defensive penalties on 3rd down, but had to settle for a field goal; however, Chase Gabriel's 32-yard attempt was no good, going wide right. Texas Tech scored its first offensive touchdown on the following drive with a 4-yard pass from Tyler Shough to tight end Travis Koontz. The Panthers would quickly respond, with Bortenschlager throwing a 69-yard touchdown pass to running back E.J. Wilson Jr. on 3rd down. The Red Raiders would go on to score 21 unanswered points to lead 35–14 at halftime.