Just In: Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire highlights “MASSIVE” standouts from second fall scrimmage
Joey McGuire gave a list of six standouts from Texas Tech’s second fall scrimmage, which took place this past weekend.
One of the key milestones during any college football team’s fall camp is the second scrimmage, where players typically begin to distinguish themselves in the competition for playing time, helping to clarify the depth chart. Texas Tech held its second fall scrimmage on Saturday, but head coach Joey McGuire didn’t provide details until Tuesday.
When he spoke to local media, he highlighted six standout players—three from the defense and three from the offense.
On defense, McGuire praised edge rusher Joseph Adedire, defensive tackle De’Braylon Carroll, and inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez for their strong performances. While Rodriguez’s excellence is expected, it’s encouraging to see Adedire and Carroll making an impact, especially since the Red Raiders are overhauling their defensive line after losing all four starters from last season. As a result, there are concerns about whether this group will be a strength or a weakness.
Adedire, a four-star prospect from the 2022 class, is anticipated to shine this season. Although he has faced some setbacks and injuries, limiting him to just 44 tackles and 2.0 sacks in his first two years, he now has the chance to significantly improve those numbers with increased playing time.
Carroll, a super-senior who transferred from Rice, has a wealth of experience, having played in 42 games and made 20 starts there, accumulating 101 tackles and 7.0 sacks. He will join a deep rotation at defensive tackle as the Red Raiders seek to fill the gaps left by former starters Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford Jr.
On the offensive side, McGuire highlighted new left guard Vinny Sciury, transfer wide receiver Josh Kelly, and transfer tight end Johncarlos Miller. These additions reflect how much the Red Raiders have revamped their offense through the transfer portal, with as many as seven newcomers potentially featuring prominently this fall. Sciury has seemingly secured the starting left guard position, and it will be interesting to see how well he performs once games commence.
Kelly has been a standout since joining from Washington State, where he recorded over 900 receiving yards last year. As a super-senior, he is expected to be the Red Raiders’ most polished receiver.
Miller, who joined from FCS Elon, may not have the same notoriety as Kelly but has impressed with his athleticism and receiving abilities. Texas Tech plans to utilize three primary tight ends, including long-time Red Raider Mason Tharp and Arizona State transfer Jalin Conyers, making it intriguing to see how they will all be deployed to optimize their strengths.
McGuire also mentioned kickers Gino Garcia and Reese Burkhardt, noting that Garcia successfully made a 55-yard field goal and Burkhardt followed with a 45-yarder, which is promising after reports of inconsistencies in fall camp.
Overall, McGuire expressed satisfaction with the scrimmage and especially appreciated that the team emerged healthy—a top priority. Now, with the second scrimmage completed, the team is shifting its focus to preparing for upcoming opponents, Abilene Christian and Washington State, signaling that the season is approaching quickly.