Offense and Defense Both Shine at Texas Tech Spring Game

LUBBOCK, TX — Texas Tech football returned to Jones AT&T Stadium for its annual spring game on Saturday, hosting a nearly 90-minute scrimmage in front of an estimated 3,000 fans and a sold-out crowd in the Gary Petersen Field Club.

Despite unseasonably cool April weather with temperatures in the 50s, head coach Joey McGuire praised the fan turnout and his team’s progress.

"I just want to say thank you for all the Red Raiders that came out to Jones AT&T stadium and how fun it was,” head coach Joey McGuire said. “I just can't thank Red Raider Nation enough. It was a really good crowd out there today. I am excited about this team, but we have a long way to go to where we need to be. The great thing is these guys really want to be special, and I know they'll put the work in."

The defense dominated much of the early scrimmage, holding the offense to just two touchdowns in the first half. New defensive transfers stood out as Lee Hunter and A.J. Holmes Jr. each recorded sacks, while Romello Height added a third-down pass breakup and Amier Boyd contributed in the secondary.

Quarterbacks Will Hammond and Mitch Griffis threw first-half touchdown passes. Hammond connected with Terrance Carter Jr. on an 11-yard score, while Griffis hit Price Morgan on a 14-yard touchdown to cap the half.

At halftime, Texas Tech presented its annual team awards from the 2024 season:

• Team MVP (Pete Cawthon Memorial Award): Tahj Brooks

• Most Improved Offensive Player (J.T. King Award): Coy Eakin

• Most Improved Defensive Player (J.T. King Award): Charles Esters III

• Donny Anderson Sportsmanship Award: Jacob Rodriguez

• Dare to Be Great Award: Wesley Smith

• Academic Effort (Clint Ramsey Award): Jack Burgess

• Courage Award (Dell Morgan Memorial): Mason Tharp

• Double Tough Award (E.J. Holub Award): Caleb Rogers

Brooks, who became the program’s all-time leading rusher with back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons, was honored as team MVP for the second straight year. He joins a list of two-time winners that includes James Gray, Zach Thomas, Montae Reagor, Kevin Curtis and Kliff Kingsbury.

"It's really cool,” said McGuire about honoring the 2024 team. “Tahj (Brooks) that was a cool moment out there. Once again, just thank you to all the fans and we really appreciate that young man and what he's done for this university."

The second half of the scrimmage featured positional drills, 7-on-7 action, and a red zone lockout period. The offense found more success late, scoring on four of six drives. Upton Bellenfant opened with a 27-yard field goal, followed by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Griffis to Leyton Stone. Quinten Joyner added a 5-yard rushing score, and Cameron Dickey capped the day with a 16-yard touchdown run.

Texas Tech now shifts focus to final exams and summer workouts before returning for preseason camp in late July. The Red Raiders will open the 2025 season at home on Aug. 30 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.