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Big 12 Preview Series: Texas Tech Needs Bowman to Stay Healthy This Season

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(photo via texastech.com)

WVSN’s Big 12 Preview Series will give a snapshot of all nine of WVU football’s Big 12 opponents throughout this week. The schedule for this week is:

Monday: Baylor and Iowa State
Tuesday: Kansas and Kansas State
Wednesday: Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
Thursday: TCU and  Texas
Friday: Texas Tech

When healthy, Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman has looked like he could be one of the best passers in the Big 12.

The issue for the Red Raiders and head coach Matt Wells, however, is that Bowman has missed 13 games with injuries over his first two seasons in 2018 and 2019. When on the field, Bowman has averaged 340 passing yards per game in 12 career contests, as well as 25 career touchdowns.

“Last year he started out really good and then was injured. I know the year before we got here, he started out pretty good,” Well said during Big 12 Football Media Day on Big 12 Now. “The stats are good for when he’s played. I think keeping Alan healthy is a little bit on us, a little bit on him and a little bit lucky.”

In TTU’s first game this season, a 35-33 win over Houston Baptist, Bowman threw for 430 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 38-52 passing.

Returning with Bowman on offense will be receiver Erik Ezukanma, the leading pass-catcher in 2019, and SaRodorick Thompson, the leading rusher. The Red Raiders will replace three starters on the offensive line, however, making protecting Bowman even more important.

Defensively, Texas Tech graduated both linebacker Jordyn Brooks (108 tackles) and safety Douglas Coleman (eight interceptions). The Red Raiders will return defensive lineman Eli Howard, cornerback DaMarcus Fields and linebacker Riko Jeffers.

Five Key Departures:

LB Jordyn Brooks

  • 1st Team All-Big 12 in 2019
  • Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2019
  • 108 tackles, 20 TFL, 3 sacks

S Douglas Coleman

  • 1st Team All-Big 12 in 2019
  • 63 tackles, 8 INT, 2 PBU

LT Travis Bruffy

  • 2nd Team All-Big 12 in 2019
  • 36 career starts

QB Jett Duffey

  • Entered into the transfer portal in Dec.
  • Started final eight games of 2019
  • 2,840 passing yards, 65.1 percent completion, 18 TD, 5 INT

WR RJ Turner

  • Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2019
  • 45 rec., 654 yards, 3 TD

Top Five Returners:

QB Alan Bowman

  • Started three games before suffering a back injury
  • 1,020 passing yards, 65.6 percent completion, 6 TD, 3 INT

DL Eli Howard

  • 2nd Team All-Big 12 in 2019
  • Preseason All-Big 12 in 2020
  • 21 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 sacks

HB SaRodorick Thompson

  • Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019
  • 765 yards, 12 TD

CB DaMarcus Fileds

  • Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019
  • 54 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU

LB Riko Jeffers

  • Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019
  • 76 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3 sacks

Schedule:

  • Sept. 12 vs Houston Baptist
    • won 35-33
  • Sept. 26 vs Texas
  • Oct. 3 at Kansas State
  • Oct. 10 at Iowa State
  • Oct. 24 vs WVU
  • Oct. 31 vs Oklahoma
  • Nov. 7 at TCU
  • Nov. 14 vs Baylor
  • Nov. 28 at Oklahoma State
  • Dec. 5 vs Kansas

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