Joey McGuire Recaps First Texas Tech Scrimmage: 'Really Good Reps'
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LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire spoke to the media following his team's first scrimmage of fall camp, which was held in the newly-named Galaxy Stadium where the Red Raiders will host Abilene Christian in the season-opener on Sep. 5.
"We got some really, really good reps," McGuire said about the performance. "We've been trying to build them up to this, so I thought they responded really well.
"First scrimmage, I can't be more excited about the team."
Here's the rest of what the coach said, including standout performances, how he addresses new NCAA rulings, and how he's kept up with alums taking part in NFL preseason games.
READ MORE:McGuire loves Red Raiders' New Role As Texas Tech Crashes CFB Elite
Linebackers get interceptions and continue building chemistry
McGuire said linebackers John Curry and Brock Golwas had impressive interceptions during the scrimmage.
Texas Tech lost star linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to the NFL, but retained Curry and Ben Roberts after they each contributed as regular starters. In the transfer portal, former Kansas State backer Austin Romaine has fit in the void as well as you could hope for.
"I tell you what, last year it was so cool to be around – because those guys sit in the front of the defensive bus with me, so I get to spend a lot of time with those guys and hear a lot of funny conversations," McGuire said about the linebacker group.
"I had never been around a group of guys that were closer than those three [Curry, Roberts, and Rodriguez], and Austin has come in and fit in great. … I know he's not Jacob, but as far as personality, they really have connected. … They play really well off each other."
'Stone Harrington is a weapon'
The Red Raiders kicker nailed a 64-yard field goal, and McGuire said he had room to spare.
"Stone, as y'all know, man, he's a weapon," the coach said. "It was good to see that."
The fifth-year senior from Colleyville was the Big 12 Conference first-team kicker and a semifinalist for the illustrious Lou Groza Award.
Last season, Harrington nailed 22 field goals on 28 attempts in 14 games. His longest was a 58-yarder at Utah on Sep. 20.
How McGuire and staff manage the new 5-for-5 opportunities
The NCAA's new five-year eligibility ruling has made waves across football and basketball with players who previously tried their hand at the pro level returning for an extra year of college ball by being grandfathered in with an injunction.
McGuire was hesitant to confirm any true skin on those walls as they pertain to Texas Tech, but he acknowledged the opportunities nonetheless.
"I know it's not the 5-for-5, but [Texas coach Steve Sarkisian] made a comment with all these injunctions that maybe we'd go get Patrick Mahomes," said McGuire sarcastically. "If Pat wants to come back, I'm sure there's a big check we can write him."
"We are monitoring this situation daily. We're talking throughout the day on what everybody is hearing," McGuire added, while also emphasizing that he doesn't imagine himself cutting anyone currently on the roster.
"If something changes – a rule changes – we're always going to look to make this roster better."
Young OL 'getting baptized' by elite DL
McGuire has been pleased with the competitiveness across the depth chart throughout camp, and that carried into the first scrimmage.
"It was back and forth," McGuire said. "I mean, offense came out and played really well. Defense responded. Defense jumped all over the offense, and our red zone lockout went up 12 to nothing, and the offense came back, and [tight end] Jett Carpenter caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone for the offense to win the red zone lockout period.
"I thought overall, you never know what’s going to show up later on in the day or tomorrow, but we came out healthy. There wasn’t anybody that [athletic trainer Michael Ramirez] had to deal with, and then I really liked the competitive spirit."
On the offensive line in particular, McGuire said the second- and third-stringers are being put to the test, which he hopes will toughen them up for potential snaps in real games. Tech's defensive line – throughout the roster – also presents as difficult a challenge as any OL can find in college football.
"Our young guys are getting baptized. It’s great," McGuire said.
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