Double Coverage 2014-10-31 by The Daily Texan

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COVERAGE Friday, October 31, 2014

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Friday, October 31, 2014

FEATURES

Texas’ fifth-year seniors are doing all they can to prevent their careers from ending how they started. PAGE 10 The Longhorns have dominated the Red Raiders at home, but winning in Lubbock hasn’t been so easy. PAGE 12

Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff

QUICK HITS By The Numbers PAGE 4 Keys to the Game PAGE 5 Matchups PAGE 7 Stock Up, Stock Down PAGE 9 Players to Watch PAGE 13 Big 12 Notebook PAGE 14 Big 12 Power Rankings PAGE 17 Games to Watch PAGE 18

As someone who is all too familiar with adversity, a Texas Tech linebacker is trying to right the ship. PAGE 15

EDITOR’S NOTE After being shutout for the first time in 10 years at Kansas State last weekend, the Longhorn offense will look to get back on track against a Texas Tech defense that is one of the worst units in the country. Both teams have had disappointing campaigns thus far, but both are still fighting for a chance to play in a bowl game. Will Swoopes and Co. be able to handle a hostile environment and keep up with the Red Raiders air raid attack? Stefan Scrafield, Double Coverage Editor

DOUBLE presents

COVERAGE Vol. 9, Issue 9

Friday, October 31, 2014

Writers: Evan Berkowitz Garrett Callahan Nick Castillo Daniel Clay Jori Epstein Sebastian Herrera Drew Lieberman Jacob Martella Peter Sblendorio

Double Coverage Editor...............................................................................Stefan Scrafield Design Editor................................................................................................Omar Longoria Photo Editor..................................................................................................Shelby Tauber Copy Editor............................................................................................................Taiki Miki

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BY THE NUMBERS

By Drew Lieberman

71-30

@DrewLieberman

Texas’ record in the ninth game of the season — a win percentage of 70.3 percent. The Longhorns are 1-1 when entering with a 3-5 record, which includes a 1997 loss to Texas Tech at home.

30-17

The average score of the series, in the Longhorns’ favor. The average score at Lubbock is 28-22, in favor of Texas.

Texas’ turnover margin on the season. Its margin is +6 in wins compared to -6 in losses. Tech’s margin on the year is -12, which is worst in the conference and tied for 125th nationally.

The average number of first downs the Red Raiders surrender per game — 125th in the nation and most in the conference. Texas has struggled in that department, picking up only 18.6 first downs per game, which is ninth in the Big 12 and tied for 105th nationally.

196

42.5

48-15

All-time record of the Texas versus Texas Tech rivalry, in the Longhorns’ favor. Texas has claimed 76.2 percent of the contests and is 18-10 in Lubbock — a win percentage of 64.2 percent. The Longhorns have won the past two on the road versus the Red Raiders but have won not three straight in Lubbock since 1966.

Amount of points the Red Raiders are allowing opponents to score this season — most in the Big 12 and 126th nationally. Even before last weekend’s 82-point debacle, they were still last in the Big 12 in scoring defense. The Longhorn offense enters this weekend averaging only 20.8 points per game — ninth in the conference.

506.3

Number of consecutive meetings the Longhorns have won against the Red Raiders entering this weekend, tied for their longest win streak over Texas Tech since 1966.

26.9

Friday, October 31, 2014

Yards of total offense the Longhorns accumulated in Saturday’s loss to Kansas State, their fewest total since only gaining 158 yards in their 63-14 loss to Oklahoma in 2000.

The number of times the Longhorns have defeated the Red Raiders on Nov. 1. They are 0-3 against Texas Tech the day after Halloween, and all three losses have been on the road.

Yards of offense allowed by the Texas Tech defense per game, most in the Big 12 and 122nd nationally. Despite the Longhorn offense being ninth in the Big 12 in yards of offense per game with 348.3, Texas should find success against the porous defense.

The number of sacks recorded by the Texas defense this season, which is the most in the Big 12 despite only recording six over the past three games. Texas Tech’s defense has only allowed seven sacks in eight games so far this year — second fewest in the conference.

The number of plays the Texas offense ran in Saturday’s shutout loss to Kansas State — the program’s fewest since running only 50 plays in its 28-10 victory over Oklahoma in 2006.

Johnathan Gray Running back

Friday, October 31, 2014

KEYS TO THE GAME By Daniel Clay @Dclay567

CONTROL THE CLOCK Texas has an immensely talented defense, including a couple of players who will continue to hone their craft in the NFL. However, when the defense is forced to stay on the field for almost two-thirds of the game, as it was against Kansas State, things will start to break down. Texas’ inability to control the clock starts on third down. The offense is converting just 33.6 percent of third downs — one of the lowest numbers in the nation. The inability to keep drives alive has resulted in too many three-and-outs and has forced the defense to compete while its best players are still recovering from the previous drive. The defense is not immune from third-down woes either. Texas allowed Kansas State to convert 9-of-17 third downs, including an uncomfortable number of third-and-longs. Texas Tech’s offense is good enough to break the Longhorn defense if it stays on the field for too long. If Texas cannot run the ball successfully and execute on third down, the Longhorns can forget about beating the Red Raiders on the road.

TURN UP THE PRESSURE The Longhorn secondary has looked very shaky in its last two games, and it will get no respite against Texas Tech’s air-raid attack. As a unit, the defensive backs are not good enough to solve the problem themselves, but pass coverage becomes exponentially easier when the opposing quarterback is not given enough time to go through progressions and wait for routes to develop. Texas Tech’s quarterback situation only increases the incentive for a disruptive pass rush. The Red Raiders’ regular starter, sophomore Davis Webb, suffered an ankle injury against TCU, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury says he will go with freshman Patrick Mahomes if Webb is not healthy enough to evade the pass rush. Webb is good enough to make quick decisions if needed, but the hobbled sophomore could get uncomfortable quickly if he has to move around to evade pressure up the middle from sophomore Hassan Ridgeway and junior Malcom Brown. The secondary might be struggling, but a solid pass rush will hide its flaws and disrupt an injured Webb or an inexperienced Mahomes.

SCORE WITHOUT THE OFFENSE Texas Tech’s philosophy in recent years has been to complement an explosive offense with a defense that holds on just enough to win high scoring contests. This season, Kingsbury’s bunch has fulfilled only the former of those requirements, as they sport one of the worst defenses in the country. The offense is certainly good but is not the high-powered machine necessary to overcome such a poor defense. That being said, the Longhorn offense is not potent enough to be counted on to take advantage of the Red Raiders’ defensive shortcomings. Texas will have to bolster the inconsistent offense with a big play or two on defense or special teams. A return touchdown would be a godsend, but the return game has done nothing to prove it can provide such a boost. But, the defense does have enough talent to uncork some big plays. Sophomore safety Dylan Haines’ pick-six made the difference against Iowa State, and something similar will have to happen if the Longhorns are to match the Red Raider offense in Lubbock.

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STEP UP

Friday, October 31, 2014 After missing time last year with a torn Achilles, Texas running back Johnathan Gray has yet to find his rhythm in 2014. The junior will have to be better in order for the Longhorns to make a bowl game this year.

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

Tyrone Swoopes Before the Kansas State game, sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes appeared as if he had turned the corner. Swoopes had put together two phenomenal performances against Oklahoma and Iowa State, putting up a combined 655 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 145 rushing yards and two rushing scores. But Swoopes took a step back against Kansas State. The quarterback from Whitewright, Texas, struggled mightily against the Wildcats, only throwing for 106 yards in the Longhorns’ first shutout loss since 2004. Now, Texas, 3-5, needs Swoopes to step up and play as he did against the Sooners and Cyclones, because the Longhorns need to win three games to become bowl eligible.

Jonathan Garza Daily Texan Staff

Johnathan Gray It hasn’t been a good year for the Texas running backs. With a young offensive line, there haven’t been many holes to run through. At times, the line has also struggled to keep pressure out of the backfield. While the line is responsible for many of the Longhorns’ problems, junior running back Johnathan Gray has had his own struggles this season. Gray, who is coming back from an Achilles injury, hasn’t looked as good as he did in his first couple seasons. He appears a step slower and doesn’t have the agility he once had. This season, Gray has only amassed 369 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while his teammate, senior running back Malcolm Brown, has found the end zone four times and has rushed for 417 yards. The Longhorns need help offensively, and if Gray can spark the running game, that would be a big help.

Duke Thomas For the most part, the Texas defense has been the cornerstone of the team. But junior cornerback Duke Thomas has been hot-and-cold this season. Thomas got burned on a double-move against UCLA, which allowed the Bruins to score the game-winning touchdown. Thomas followed that disappointing performance with two interceptions against Kansas and then snagged another interception against Iowa State to raise his season total to three. But, against Kansas State, Thomas once again got burned on a double-move, which set up a Wildcat touchdown. The Longhorn defense has been solid this season, but, in order to be better, it needs Thomas to step up and be more reliable.

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MATCHUPS

Friday, October 31, 2014

By Daniel Clay @dclay567

Advantage: Texas

Junior DeAndre Washington and his 5.6 yards per carry average bring balance to the Red Raiders’ pass-happy offense. His running mate, freshman Justin Stockton, thrives on big plays and has already turned in rushes of 75 and 69 yards to complement his five total touchdowns. Another week has passed, and neither junior Johnathan Gray nor senior Malcolm Brown has rushed for 100 yards in a game this season. Texas Tech has one of the worst run defenses in the country, but Texas’ backfield duo has not been consistent enough to guarantee success Saturday.

This unit is loaded with veteran talent, including breakout senior John Harris, but its results depend on a sporadic Swoopes to make the correct reads and deliver accurate passes. Junior Marcus Johnson got open on some deep routes against Kansas State but had little to show for it in the box score. Junior Jakeem Grant has benefited most from the Texas Tech’s air-raid attack, hauling in a team-leading 52 receptions for 699 yards and five touchdowns. He and senior Bradley Marquez will look to stretch out a struggling Longhorn secondary.

Advantage: Texas Tech

Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes did not even reach 150 total yards, and he tried too often to use his cannon of an arm to squeeze passes into nonexistent windows. An atrocious Red Raider defense could be just what the doctor ordered for the talented but inconsistent sophomore. Red Raider sophomore quarterback Davis Webb leads the 10th-best passing offense in the country, but his status is up in the air for Saturday after suffering an ankle injury against TCU. Backup freshman quarterback Patrick Mahomes was shaky in relief, completing just 5-of11 passes. A healthy Webb swings this matchup in Tech’s favor.

Advantage: Texas

The Longhorns have been showing a lot of three-man fronts recently, but that has not diminished the pass rush. Sophomore defensive end Caleb Bluiett is spending an increasing amount of time in the backfield, and the defensive tackles have played brilliantly. The Red Raider defensive line has only registered four sacks on the season, but this can be overlooked if the run defense does its job. It hasn’t. Opponents have romped for 246.1 rushing yards per game — the eighth highest figure in the nation.

Advantage: Texas

The Texas linebackers keep improving as the season goes on. They have performed admirably against some of the best rushing attacks in the nation, and seniors Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond have combined for six sacks on the season. If there is a strength to be found in the Texas Tech defense, it is the linebackers — Pete Robertson to be specific. The junior has wreaked havoc against the run and the pass, and he has accrued a teamleading 58 tackles to complement his eight sacks, which are also a team high.

Advantage: Texas

The defensive backs looked like the pride of the Longhorn defense early in the season, but they have struggled in their last two contests, and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford still insists on playing his best cover corner, senior Quandre Diggs, as a nickelback. The Longhorn secondary has struggled in recent weeks, but Texas Tech’s has been historically awful. The Red Raiders just conceded 480 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns in an 82-27 collapse at the hands of TCU.

Advantage: Texas Tech

The Red Raider offensive line has been stellar this season, allowing only seven sacks and run blocking for a 5.2 yards per carry average. Junior tackle Le’Raven Clark helps anchor this experienced unit and will be making his 35th consecutive start Saturday. The revolving door keeps on spinning for the Texas offensive line and rightly so. The Longhorns rushed for only 3.3 yards per carry against Kansas State, and, as a result, redshirt freshman Darius James is expected to take the place of struggling sophomore tackle Camrhon Hughes.

Advantage: Texas Tech

akeem Grant is averaging a solid 24.7 yards per return. Kicking and punting have both been strengths for this team. Junior kicker Taylor Symmank has booted 11 punts inside the 20-yard line, and senior kicker Ryan Bustin has hit on 7-of8 attempts. The Longhorns played another game without a terrible special teams gaffe, but their performance was still underwhelming. Senior punter William Russ has been one of the few reliable players for this unit, but he averaged just 37.1 yards per punt against Kansas State.

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Friday, October 31, 2014

STOCK UP, STOCK DOWN By Evan Berkowitz

SCENARIOS

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

The Longhorn offense goes as its quarterback, Tyrone Swoopes, does. The sophomore has shown great promise at times this year, but when he struggles, the whole team suffers.

@Evan_Berkowitz

Stock Down: Malcolm Brown Brown had zero touches in the second half against Kansas State. Zero. After six carries for 21 yards, he was sidelined for the rest of the afternoon as junior Johnathan Gray and freshman D’onta Foreman carried the load. This is the same running back that got 19 carries in the two previous weeks and looked to be the feature back. Head coach Charlie Strong jumped around the question in his press conference, as he leaves the rotation up to his coordinators. But, even when he gets touches, Brown isn’t doing too much behind the young offensive line. While he is averaging a solid 3.8 yards per carry, he has yet to crack 80 yards in a game and is a non-factor catching balls out of the backfield.

Ethan Oblak Daily Texan Staff

Texas Wins Stock Up: Quandre Diggs The Texas secondary had a rough game, especially on third downs, but Diggs held his own. His draft stock is rising fast and for good reason. You sometimes forget he’s out there, which is a good thing for a defensive back. Although junior cornerback Duke Thomas struggled mightily against Kansas State’s senior receiver Tyler Lockett, and senior defensive back Mykkele Thompson struggled last week against Iowa State, Diggs has been consistent. There weren’t many bright spots against the Wildcats, but the senior had himself a game.

Stock Down: Marcus Johnson What a disappointment this guy has been. Johnson came into the year as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, but he simply hasn’t produced. Last year, the junior receiver had big-play ability with Case McCoy throwing to him. He had three receptions of over 30 yards. This season, he has just one. He also only has two games with more than two receptions. Without much depth at the wide receiver position, a lot was expected from Johnson in 2014. He simply hasn’t stepped up.

Stock Up: Hassan Ridgeway It’s hard finding positives after the debacle in Manhattan, but sophomore defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway played a great game. Early on, Ridgeway made his presence felt. He generated solid pass rush and had a sack and three tackles for loss. But, as the game wore on, Ridgeway and the Longhorns got very little pressure on Kansas State senior Jake Waters, which can be partly attributed to the offense’s inability to stay on the field and give the defense some rest. Ridgeway’s first half was a good one, and, if he can keep that up for a full 60 minutes, he’ll be a nice addition to an experienced Texas defensive front.

… If sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes can rebound after a horrible game against Kansas State. Swoopes looked uncomfortable against the Wildcats and had his worst game since the loss to Baylor. If Swoopes can play better than he did against Kansas State, Texas should be in good shape against Texas Tech. If Swoopes plays as he did against Oklahoma and Iowa State, the Longhorns will have no problem getting past the Red Raiders. … If the supporting cast improves. While Swoopes struggled against the Wildcats, other aspects of the offense didn’t look much better. The running game only produced 90 yards. During the third quarter, Texas drove down the field but turned the ball over on an attempted double reverse. If Texas can avoid turnovers and play a much cleaner game Saturday, it won’t have an issue getting past Texas Tech. … If the defense can play up to its standard. The defense didn’t play well against Iowa State, giving up 524 yards of total offense. But against Kansas State, the defense held the Wildcats to 367 yards of total offense. The Longhorn defense was the primary reason Texas was in the game against Kansas State, and this has become the norm. If Texas’ defense can continue to keep the Longhorns alive, the offense will eventually have success in Lubbock on Saturday. … If the special teams continue to play error-free. Special teams has been an issue for most of the season, but lately, the unit has become increasingly reliable. The return game has been efficient. Redshirt senior punter Will Russ and junior kicker Nick Rose have been good over the past few weeks. If the special teams continue their solid play, the Longhorns will be in a position to beat Texas Tech.

Texas Loses … If Swoopes struggles. If Swoopes performs as he did against Baylor and Kansas State, the Longhorns will have no shot at beating Texas Tech. … If the offense shoots itself in the foot. If turnovers and mistakes pile up Saturday, Texas Tech will beat the Longhorns. … If Texas Tech is able to exploit the defense. If the Red Raiders find a way to beat the Texas defense and rack up the yards, they will beat the Longhorns.

Friday, October 31, 2014

PLAYING FOR THE POSTSEASON

Longhorn seniors work to avoid missing out on a bowl in their final year at Texas By Stefan Scrafield @StefanScrafield

As far as adversity goes, it’s tough to imagine a group of Longhorns that has been through more than the current fifthyear seniors. Before they arrived at Texas in 2010, Mack Brown had lost a total of 27 games in his first 12 years as head coach, and the program was coming off a loss in a national championship game that just might have gone the other way if former quarterback Colt McCoy hadn’t had his shoulder crushed. The fivesome surely had similar aspirations, imagining 10win seasons and national championship runs as the norm when they first arrived on the 40 Acres five years ago. But for Jordan Hicks, John Harris, Demarco Cobbs, Dom Espinosa and Greg Daniels, the last half-decade hasn’t gone quite as planned. All off-field issues aside, the veteran group has lost 26 games over that span, failed to reach double-digit wins in every season and never experienced a BCS game, let alone a national championship. In their first year, they didn’t

even make a bowl game. Now, in the midst of another disappointing season, the elder statesmen and the rest of Texas’ senior class serve as motivation, as the Longhorns look to avoid missing the postseason yet again. “We can’t allow the players to check out because we still have games to play,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “You want to see the seniors walk out of here the right way. Their careers haven’t been great for them.” “Not great” is an understatement, especially for the five guys that were around the last time the Longhorns missed out on bowl season. All freshmen at the time, the fifth-year seniors understand how damaging it can be to an underclassman’s psyche if he doesn’t get a taste of success early on. “It’s frustrating to think that I could leave here as a senior like I did when I came in as a freshman — 5-7,” Harris said. “That’s not a mark I want to set a trend for, for these younger guys, because that’s a trend that doesn’t need to continue.” Despite all the struggles — and maybe even because of them — Texas’ upperclassmen have served well as leaders

on the team. Younger players often speak of how much they admire and respect the way the veterans on the team carry themselves, and the coaching staff continues to harp on how impressed they’ve been with the leadership in the locker room. Strong knows that while getting to a bowl game is something he wants to do for the seniors, it’s that same group that will be the ones to get them there. “I ask them, ‘How many of you guys want to go to a bowl game?’” Strong said. “The whole team raised their hands. I told the juniors, sophomores and freshmen, ‘You guys put your hands down. I want to see how many seniors want to go.’ If [the seniors] want to go to a bowl game, they’ll get the team headed back in the right direction.” Based on what we’ve heard all week, the seniors understand how badly their coaches and younger teammates want to send them out on a high note. They’d like to return the favor. “I think it’s not only important for the seniors, but I think it’s important for just this team in all,” senior defensive end Cedric Reed said. “I think that there’s a lot of guys on this team that need to experience a bowl game.”

’

Photos by Jonathan Garza, Jenna VonHofe | Daily Texan Staff

Left: Longhorn seniors Quandre Diggs (6) and Jordan Hicks (3) have had a disappointing experience at Texas. They’re doing everything they can to avoid missing a bowl game yet again. Above: Senior receiver Jaxon Shipley watched his brother, Jordan, enjoy great success as a Longhorn, but Jaxon’s four years on campus haven’t gone so smoothly.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Texas looks to overcome hostile road environment By Drew Lieberman @DrewLieberman

Two. That is the most consecutive times Texas has travelled to Texas Tech and won since winning the first five matchups in Lubbock from 1934 to 1966. The Longhorns have a chance to change that this weekend, as they travel up the Panhandle with a two game win streak at Jones AT&T Stadium. “Whenever people say that, they kind of put a jinx on us a little bit,” senior wide receiver John Harris said. “But, we’re not worried about that; we’re not worried about records. We are just trying to worry about getting to bowl game. If the win streak continues, that’s good for us out there in Lubbock.” With this weekend’s kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m., well after dark, the Longhorns will face the added challenge of playing a night game at Texas Tech — one of the more hostile environments in the Big 12. “It’s a good college football crowd, and they’ll be ready to rock and roll,” said Shawn Watson, Texas’ assistant head coach for offense and quarterbacks coach. “It’s one of those venues you walk into, and you’ve got to be ready for that aspect of it.” More than anything, Tech fans are infamous for their crazy antics. “They throw tortillas at you,” senior defensive end Cedric Reed said. “They do a lot of different stuff, man. It’s just a very loud crowd. They’ve got a lot of students in the stadium. There’s not much out there in Lubbock but football, so you know everybody’s packing in that little stadium.” Junior running back Johnathan Gray had equal praise for the Red Raider fans, particularly at night and at this time of year. “Those fans are rowdy,” Gray said. “The team, from what I heard, [in] Lubbock is a great night team, especially their Halloween [weekend] record.” The Longhorns know that from experience. They are 0-3 all time when facing the Red Raiders on the road on Nov. 1. Their most recent loss came in 2008, when former receiver Michael Crabtree scampered into the end zone with one second remaining. That defeat resulted in a three-way tie for the Big 12 South lead, and the Longhorns lost the tiebreaker to Oklahoma despite beating the Sooners at the Cotton Bowl earlier that year. In fact, the other two times the Longhorns fell in Lubbock under Mack Brown were very costly as well. In 1998, the Red Raiders scored the game-winning touchdown with under 30 seconds to play to end Texas’ conference title hopes. In 2002, current Red Raider head coach Kliff Kingsbury led Tech to a victory that knocked the Longhorns out of the BCS picture. While Texas does not have such lofty ambitions this season, a loss this Saturday would force them to win their last three games just to gain bowl eligibility. “We just got to go out and execute and play because we know what’s on the line here,” Harris said. “They’re 3-5, [and] we’re 3-5, so the team who wins this game probably has a better chance of going to a bowl game.” It’s never easy to win on the road — especially in such a difficult venue — but the Longhorns are ultimately focused on what goes on between the lines, as they try to win their third straight in Lubbock. “When it comes down to it, it’s just Texas and Texas Tech playing, and none of those other people even matter, so it really shouldn’t affect us,” senior receiver Jaxon Shipley said.

Cheslea Purgahn | Daily Texan file photo

Top: Texas Tech players celebrate a rare touchdown in the Red Raiders Thanksgiving loss to Texas in Austin last year. The Longhorns have had no trouble beating Tech at home, but things haven’t gone so well in Lubbock. Bottom: Sophomore defensive end Shiro Davis works to get free from a Texas Tech offensive lineman in last year’s matchup.

Friday, October 31, 2014

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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By Peter Sblendorio @petersblendorio

Quarterback Davis Webb The pass-happy Texas Tech offense runs through Webb, who has emerged as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the Big 12 this season. After an impressive freshman campaign in 2013, Webb leads the conference with 24 touchdown passes and stands second with 2,539 passing yards through eight games this year. Webb has passed for at least 247 yards and two touchdowns in every game this season, and he’s already thrown at least three touchdown passes in six games. If he’s healthy enough to play, Webb could be in store for another big game against a Texas secondary that allowed 345 passing yards and three touchdowns to Iowa State quarterback Sam B. Richardson just two weeks ago.

Wide receiver Jakeem Grant Grant has become Webb’s favorite target this season, leading the Red Raiders with 52 receptions and 699 yards while sitting in a tie for second on the team with five touchdowns. The junior has been extremely consistent, turning in at least 70 receiving yards in each of his last seven games and hauling in at least five receptions seven times this season. At 5 feet 6 inches and 169 pounds, Grant is one of the smallest receivers in the Big 12, but he’s made a career for himself in Texas Tech’s quick-paced passing game. Last year, he made 65 receptions for 796 yards and seven touchdowns, and he’s on pace to shatter each of those marks this season.

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Wide receiver Bradley Marquez Marquez has been almost as dynamic as Grant this season, placing second on the team with 47 receptions for 582 yards while leading the Red Raiders with seven touchdown receptions. Marquez got off to a torrid start this season, recording 26 receptions and six touchdowns in his first four games. He’s slowed down since, but he’s remained effective, hauling in at least five catches for 65 yards in each of his last three games. That being said, the Longhorns held Marquez in check last season, allowing him just three receptions for 23 yards.

Running back DeAndre Washington In Texas Tech’s high-octane passing attack, Washington has provided the perfect balance on the ground through eight games. The junior leads Texas Tech with 699 rushing yards on 125 attempts, and he’s already rushed for over 100 yards in three games. Washington hasn’t scored a touchdown since the season opener, but he’s remained extremely effective, as he’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He’s also established himself as a threat in the passing game, making 17 receptions for 110 yards through eight games. Long known for its air-raid passing attack, Texas Tech has been unusually successful in the run game this season, thanks in large part to junior running back DeAndre Washington.

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Friday, October 31, 2014

BIG 12 NOTEBOOK

By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox

Tech QB Webb day-to-day with leg injury

Texas Tech has dealt with a lot of injury issues this season, and that list got a little longer this week. Sophomore quarterback Davis Webb left the Red Raiders’ 82-27 loss to TCU on Saturday with a left leg injury and was seen on the sidelines with crutches. On Monday, Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Webb is day-to-day going into the game against Texas. “I just heard an ankle injury,” Kingsbury said in his weekly press conference. “That’s all I know at this point.” If Webb is unable to go, freshman Patrick Mahomes will take over the starting quarterback duties. Mahomes is 12-of-23 for 119 yards and has thrown for two touchdowns and two interceptions in place of Webb this season.

OU’s Sanchez, TCU’s Carter named Thorpe Award semifinalists

Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan file photo

Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez was named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, given to the nations top defensive back, Monday. He had a pick-six against Texas earlier this year.

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The Big 12, known primarily for its offense, picked up two semifinalists for the award given to the nation’s best defensive back Monday. Oklahoma sophomore cornerback Zack Sanchez and TCU senior safety Sam Carter were named semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award. Sanchez leads the Big 12 with five interceptions, including a pick-six against Texas, and is third in the country in that category. Carter has recorded 26 total tackles, two pass deflections and two interceptions this season. Finalists for the award will be named on Nov. 24, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 11.

West Virginia’s White added to Maxwell watch list

West Virginia’s Kevin White might have had his 100-yards-per-game streak snapped Saturday against Oklahoma State, but he received some exciting news this week, being named to the Maxwell Award watch list. Despite not being on the list in the preseason, White has put up monster numbers this season with 72 receptions, 1,047 receiving yards and eight touchdowns — all of which lead the Big 12. Up until last week, White had totaled at least 100 yards in each of his first seven games this season. The Maxwell Award is given to the best player in the country. White is not on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes the country’s best receiver.

Pair of Horned Frogs headline Big 12 weekly awards

TCU picked up a big win at home over Texas Tech on Saturday and was rewarded with two of its players being given the conference’s weekly awards. Junior quarterback Trevone Boykin was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for a school-record seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Boykin finished the game with 433 passing yards, putting him third in school history for single-game passing yardage. Junior kicker Jaden Oberkrom joined his teammate as the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting all four of his field goals in the win. Three of his four kicks were from 43 yards or longer. In all, Oberkrom accounted for 22 points in the game, falling just short of the team record he set in 2012 against Texas Tech with 23 points. Kansas State’s Dante Barnett rounded out the awards, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Barnett had four pass break ups and seven tackles in the Wildcats’ shutout win over Texas. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin was recognized as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 433 yards and seven touchdowns against Texas Tech last weekend.

Elisabeth Dillon Daily Texan file photo

Friday, October 31, 2014

Adversity nothing new for Tech linebacker By Jori Epstein @JoriEpstein

When Texas Tech’s defense gave up 82 points in its 55-point loss last weekend, spectators around the country took note in amazement. Word spread of TCU’s dominance, as it scored the most points in program history with junior quarterback Trevone Boykin throwing for a school-record seven touchdowns. But Red Raider senior linebacker V.J. Fehoko, was far from amazed. He had other words to describe the poor performance. “Watching the tape once, that was pretty much good enough for me,” Fehoko said Monday. “Disgusted, but it’s something to learn from. We’ve got a big game this week, so we can put our attention and our anger and our frustration towards that.” Dealing with such adversity is nothing new for Fehoko. After dropping from 30 to 20 tackles in his junior year at Utah and losing his starting position, Fehoko sought a program where he could better contribute. He transferred to Texas Tech in the spring and has since played every game, averaging more than 5.5 tackles per contest. His 45 tackles thus far this season are good for fourth on the team. Even so, Fehoko is frustrated by the reality that his defense surrendered 82 points a week ago. With senior middle linebacker Sam Eguavoen, who leads the team in solo tackles and is third in overall tackles, missing the TCU game with a lower-leg injury, Fehoko needed to step up. He met the challenge, recording eight tackles, but, the defense, as a unit, failed. “I thought we played tough,” Fehoko said. “We had some

unfortunate circumstances. I felt we had some miscommunication errors and some misalignments and some missed assignments, but overall, I’m proud of the guys.” Fehoko understands that TCU’s offense is an elite group. In fact, with a top-10 ranking, they’re a “great football team,” he says. But, he feels his teammates beat themselves at times, missing assignments and entering plays too late to keep pace with the up-tempo style the Horned Frogs ran. Fehoko says the Texas matchup is the perfect opportunity for the Red Raiders to redeem themselves. “You know what, I think UT is all we need right now,” Fehoko said. “Like Coach Kliff [Kingsbury] said, we need a win. Winning is fun, and I think that will be our main focus this week.” Fehoko sees the contest with the Longhorns as an opportunity for Tech to redeem itself after last week’s debacle. But, the competition holds even more potential for redemption than that. After Texas downed Tech 41-16 in Austin last Thanksgiving, the Red Raiders hope to defend their home turf this time around. “Oh, yeah — you don’t ever want to let a team beat you twice, and our priority right now and our focus is on Texas,” Fehoko said. “They’re coming off of a shutout, which [they had not] done in almost nearly a decade, so they’re going to be fired up. We need all the head starts we can get.” With the Red Raiders missing so many players due to injury, Fehoko says backups will need to step up. Given the personnel issues, Fehoko is hoping the fans will prove to be the difference. “The stadium will be rocking — I’m very confident in

Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics Texas Tech linebacker V.J. Fehoko is no stranger to hard times. The senior linebacker started his career at Utah, playing for the Utes, but after his playing time and production declined as a junior, he elected to transfer and play for the Red Raiders in his final year of eligibility.

You know what, I think UT is all we need right now. Like Coach Kliff [Kingsbury] said, we need a win. Winning is fun, and I think that will be our main focus this week. —V.J. Fehoko, Senior linebacker, Red Raiders

our fans,” Fehoko said. “I understand that it’s Halloween weekend, so I think a lot of people and a lot of players will be juiced up for that. It’s always a great opportunity to play in the Jones [stadium] at night.”

Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics

As a veteran leader who’s been through a lot, Fehoko is trying to lead by example as his Red Raider defense attempts to bounce back after giving up 82 points against TCU last weekend.

HEISMAN WATCH

Friday, October 31, 2014

By Sebastian Herrera @SebasAHerrera

1. Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott Last week (W, 45-31, vs. Kentucky): 18-for-33, 216 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 INT, 88 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs 2014: 1,694 passing yards, 15 passing TDs, 5 INTs, 664 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs Against Kentucky last week, Prescott wasn’t the super-human fans have grown accustomed to this season, but he still accounted for three Bulldog touchdowns in a 14-point road victory. Prescott’s been the breakout player this year, but he’ll have to show more consistency the rest of the way to keep his team in the win column and himself atop the Heisman race. He’s had three interceptions in his last two games — a tendency he needs to fix with stingy defenses coming his way.

2. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota Last week (W, 59-41, vs. California): 18-for-30, 326 passing yards, 5 passing TDs, 1 INT 2014: 2,283 passing yards, 24 passing TDs, 1 INT, 325 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs As magical as Prescott has been, Mariota remains the nation’s most complete quarterback. If it wasn’t for Oregon’s one loss, in which Mariota turned the ball over at a critical moment, he would be at the top of the Heisman list. The 6-foot-4-inch, 219-pound junior leads the nation with a 10.5-yards per attempt average and 192.18 passer rating. With the way the Ducks’ schedule looks, Mariota could lead his team to the College Football Playoff, which would boost his Heisman résumé.

3. Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon Last week (W, 52-7, vs. Maryland): 22 attempts, 122 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs 2014: 154 attempts, 1,168 rushing yards, 16 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD Gordon has rushed for at least 122 yards in all but one game this season, giving him the second-best rushing average in the nation. His three touchdowns last week, which all came in the first half, extended his touchdown streak to five games. Aside from Wisconsin’s blowout win over Western Illinois, in which Gordon wasn’t needed, the 6-foot-1-inch 207-pounder has heavily impacted every Badger game. Even with his humble frame, Gordon is the most feared running back in the nation.

4. Alabama WR Amari Cooper Last week (W, 34-20, vs. Tennessee): 9 receptions, 224 receiving yards, 2 TDs 2014: 71 receptions, 1,132 receiving yards, 9 TDs Cooper is averaging 141.5 yards per game for the Crimson Tide this season — second in the nation. Most wide receivers can only dream of those numbers in the defensive-minded SEC. But Cooper has lived it, and, at this point, he’s essentially a lock to put up 100 yards every Saturday. You can’t ask for more out of a receiver than what Cooper has given to Alabama. If it weren’t so difficult for players at his position to win the Heisman, Cooper would be even higher on this list. One thing is for certain, however: Cooper is the best player lining up outside the hashes in college football.

5. Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah Last week (W, 42-24, vs. Rutgers): 19 attempts, 225 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs 2014: 180 attempts, 1,249 rushing yards, 17 rushing TDs, 169 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs Abdullah hasn’t faced the best defenses this season. However, one has to commend his average of 156 yards per game despite those yards coming against subpar teams. And, even though defenses know that the Cornhuskers will run their offense through him, the senior has become the nation’s leading rusher. Abdullah is guaranteed to earn a paycheck playing on Sundays next year, and, if he keeps doing what he’s been doing, he’ll find himself in New York this year as a Heisman finalist.

Friday, October 31, 2014

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

No. 7

TCU

Oklahoma State

No. 9

Kansas State

Texas

No. 18

Oklahoma

Iowa State

No. 20

West Virginia

Texas Tech

No. 13

Baylor

If you didn’t already know, the Horned Frogs put up 82 points against Tech. 82. That’s a lot. And, after struggling to hold onto his job last year, junior Trevone Boykin is now a Heisman hopeful. He threw for 433 yards and seven touchdowns against Tech to give him 24 total touchdowns compared to just three picks. TCU is for real, and you can’t help but wonder where they’d be if former defensive end Devonte Fields had kept his head on straight.

Can a team be more fundamentally sound than the Wildcats? They don’t wow you, but they impress you. Against Texas, they only had three penalties, were efficient on third down and didn’t turn the ball over. Their 3.57 penalties per game average ranks third in the nation, and their six turnovers rank fifth. They just don’t beat themselves, and that’s why Bill Snyder is coaching in a stadium named after him.

Even with two losses, the Sooners are still a solid team. They are well rounded with a good defense and a decent offense. However, they aren’t great anywhere. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight has had a rather disappointing year, while freshman running back Samaje Perine has proven to be the team’s best offensive weapon. He’s averaging nearly five yards a carry to complement his 10 rushing touchdowns.

Who saw this coming? The Mountaineers are playing some of the best football in the Big 12 right now. They blew past Baylor and crushed Oklahoma State. In their final four games, they will face TCU and Kansas State, but, if redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett keeps playing the way he’s been playing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Mountaineers finish the season atop the conference.

It’s hard to believe how far the Bears have fallen, but they have been largely unimpressive recently. They should have lost to TCU, giving up 58 points. They were exposed by West Virginia, allowing the Mountaineers to put up 41. And frankly, senior quarterback Bryce Petty hasn’t been as good as people expected. He’s completed less than 50 percent of his passes in his last three games.

There’s a big gap between the Cowboys and the top-five teams in the Big 12. They’ve lost two in a row, both in ugly fashion, and in the final third of the season the Pokes will play Kansas State, Oklahoma and Baylor on the road. There’s a good chance they lose all three.

After sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes finally showed promise, he took a big step back when his Longhorns were shut out for the first time since 2004. The Longhorns aren’t good, but they aren’t roadkill either. They have the talent to keep up with most teams, but they shouldn’t be considered a threat to win.

The best of the worst. The Cyclones can hang around with the top teams, but they simply can’t get the wins. Redshirt junior quarterback Sam Richardson is playing well, and senior E.J. Bibbs is the best tight end in the Big 12. However, their defense is really bad, as it allows over 35 points per game.

The Red Raiders just gave up 82 points to TCU. They are allowing over 42 points per game — the third-worst mark in the nation. As always, their offense has been solid, as sophomore quarterback Davis Webb is one of the best in the league, but the defense is simply too bad to overcome.

Kansas

The Jayhawks have kept things close in a few Big 12 games this year and have won two non-conference contests — small victories.

GAMES TO WATCH No. 7 TCU at No. 20 West Virginia

Friday, October 31, 2014

By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox

Milan Puskar Stadium Morgantown, West Virginia Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ABC

The two newest members of the Big 12 will square off in their biggest matchup since joining the conference in 2012. TCU has played itself into playoff contention despite losing to Baylor a couple of weeks ago. The Horned Frogs broke the conference record for points scored in a conference game, hanging 82 on Texas Tech last week. Junior quarterback Trevone Boykin tossed seven touchdown passes in that game and currently has a 7-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. West Virginia is also no stranger to the end zone. The Mountaineers have scored 36.9 points per game this season, and senior receiver Kevin White has played well enough the past few weeks to break into the Heisman conversation with 1,047 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. There’s no telling how high the score could go in this one.

No. 3 Auburn at No. 4 Ole Miss

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Oxford, Mississippi Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ESPN

After Ole Miss’ loss to LSU last weekend, neither Auburn nor the Rebels come into this game undefeated, but the intrigue still remains. The winner of this game will remain in the conversation for a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff, but the loser will essentially be eliminated. The Tigers just survived another upset bid from South Carolina in their first game since losing to Mississippi State. Senior quarterback Nick Marshall has quietly put together a solid year with 1,103 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions in addition to seven rushing touchdowns. The Rebels, on the other hand, are looking to avoid going into a slump after a tough loss to LSU, in which the offense scored only seven points. Look for Ole Miss to rely on its defense, which leads the nation in points allowed, to keep them in this game. This should be another great SEC showdown, with a possible spot in the playoffs on the line.

@thedailytexan Follow us for news, updates and more. No. 12 Arizona at No. 22 UCLA

Because of the great play in the SEC and Big 12, the Pac-12 has largely flown under the radar this season. Arizona is the perfect example of this, as the Wildcats have put together a pretty strong season but have yet to really garner any national attention. The Wildcats’ lone blemish is a two-point loss to USC on Oct. 11. However, they also have a big win over then-No. 2 Oregon in Eugene. Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon has been the focal point of the offense thus far, with 2,430 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions. On the flip side, UCLA has quietly fallen off since being ranked seventh in the preseason AP poll. The Bruins just survived an upset bid from Colorado in double overtime last week, and redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley has struggled recently. The Pac-12 South is still wide open, and this matchup could determine who plays Oregon in the conference title game.

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Rose Bowl Pasadena, California Saturday, 9:30 p.m. ESPN

Stanford at No. 5 Oregon

Autzen Stadium Eugene, Oregon Saturday, 6:30 p.m. FOX

This is a matchup that has typically decided who represents the Pac-12 North in the conference title game, and, even with Stanford not being ranked, that will likely be the case again this season. Stanford has had a down year by its standards, having lost three games already this season — all of which came against ranked teams. Nonetheless, the Cardinal still sit in second place in the division — just one game behind Oregon. A big reason for some of their struggles has been the offense, which ranks 91st in the country at 25.8 points per game and has averaged only 11 points in their three losses. Oregon, on the other hand, continues to work towards a spot in the College Football Playoff despite having lost to Arizona. Junior quarterback Marcus Mariota looks like a Heisman front-runner with 2,238 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and only one interception. This game has historically produced exciting games, and this year’s edition will be no different.

STAFF PICKS

Friday, October 31, 2014

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this the enheir etly cepking ven d, to pot

EVAN BERKOWITZ

GARRETT CALLAHAN

NICK CASTILLO

DANIEL CLAY

JORI EPSTEIN

SEBASTIAN HERRERA

DREW LIEBERMAN

JACOB MARTELLA

PETER SBLENDORIO

STEFAN SCRAFIELD

8-2

4-6

5-5

6-4

5-5

7-3

Overall Record

49-31

50-30

51-29

52-28

53-27

54-26

51-29

55-25

56-24

50-30

Texas vs. Texas Tech

Texas 32-18

Texas 24-10

Texas 35-24

Texas 28-24

Texas 17-14

Texas 24-17

Texas 31-27

Texas 35-21

Texas 34-28

Texas 28-24

Auburn vs. Ole Miss

Auburn

Ole Miss

Auburn

Ole Miss

Auburn

Ole Miss

Auburn

Arizona vs. UCLA

UCLA

Arizona

UCLA

Arizona

UCLA

Arizona State

Utah

Arizona State

Utah

Arizona State

Duke vs. Pittsburgh

Duke

Pittsburgh

Duke

Maryland vs. Penn State

Penn State

Maryland

Penn State

Maryland

Penn State

Boston College vs. Virginia Tech

Boston College

Virginia Tech

Boston College

Virginia Tech

Virginia vs. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech

Virginia

Georgia Tech

Army

Air Force

TCU

West Virginia

TCU

West Virginia

TCU

West Virginia

Last Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Record

Utah vs. Arizona State

Air Force vs. Army

TCU vs. West Virginia

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