Texas Tech Football: Can Red Raiders bounce back after disappointing 2019?

Texas Tech football has struggled throughout the later part of the 2010’s. With a unique 2020 season lying ahead, can the Red Raiders turn the ship around?

Despite sending some big names to the NFL over the past few years, Texas Tech has had a rough journey through the second half of the 2010s. The Red Raiders have not had a winning record since 2015 when Kliff Kingsbury was running the show.

Since he left, the story has been much of the same: high-powered offense with a defense that can’t match that same energy.

Matt Wells enters his second year in Lubbock as head coach. A 4-8 season isn’t much to feel great about, but they did knock off a ranked Oklahoma State team early in 2019. They were a team that went down swinging, as they lost five of their eight games by just one possession.

Despite having the $500 million man at one point, Texas Tech has struggled in the recruiting field as of late when compared to the rest of the Big 12. Texas Tech hasn’t had a top five recruiting class in the conference since 2015, according to 247Sports.

That will not get it done when players such as Kyler Murray, CeeDee Lamb, Xavien Howard and LJ Collier are coming through the conference and leaving as high draft picks.

That isn’t to say they have not had talent in Lubbock. Jordyn Brooks was drafted in the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft after leading Texas Tech in tackles over the past two years. Patrick Mahomes has become the highest-paid player in the NFL, and one of the all-around best. Baker Mayfield even had a stint with the Red Raiders before transferring to Oklahoma.

The talent has come through it’s just about building a more well-rounded team. Easier said than done especially when going up against recruiting giants in Oklahoma and Texas.

Can Texas Tech rise above their defensive and recruiting issues for 2020?