Texas Tech Football Notebook - August 2, 2004
August 02, 2004 | Football
Aug. 2, 2004
Seventeen Former Red Raiders on Preseason NFL Rosters - Texas Tech is well-represented during the 2004 NFL preseason training camps with 17 Red Raiders listed among those vying for spots on the teams' 53-man rosters. Fourteen of the 17 are currently on AFC rosters.
Carlos Francis and B.J. Symons, who both were selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, have signed contracts with the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans, respectively, while last year's picks, Kliff Kingsbury and Aaron Hunt, are with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
League veterans Zach Thomas (Miami) and Marcus Coleman (Houston) return and Montae Reagor enters his second season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Other Red Raiders looking to make NFL rosters this season include: Clinton Greathouse and Preston Hartfield (Baltimore Ravens); Rex Richards (Indianapolis Colts); Sammy Morris (Miami Dolphins); Lawrence Flugence (New England Patriots); Wes Welker (San Diego Chargers); Mickey Peters (Tennessee Titans); Toby Cecil (Carolina Panthers); Joselio Hanson (San Francisco 49ers); and Devin Lemons (Washington Redskins).
We're Getting Close - With finals wrapping up this week, several Texas Tech players will head home this weekend before returning for the official start of the 2004 season. Training camp gets underway when the players report Tue., Aug. 10. The first practice will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., Aug. 11.
Last Chance to Sign Up for Women's Clinic - There are a limited number of spots remaining for the 2004 Texas Tech Women's Football Clinic, slated for Thu., Aug. 5, at 5:30 p.m. CT at Jones SBC Stadium. Entry fee for the event is $30. Groups of four or more may sign up for $20 per person. For more information, please contact the Texas Tech Football Office at (806) 742-4260. Applications for the Women's Football Clinic are available at www.texastech.com and www.mikeleach.net. The first three clinics sold out prior to August 1.
POSITION OUTLOOK - Red Raider Defensive Line - The Red Raiders welcome an entirely different situation in the defensive line than they faced a year ago as three of four starters and three others who saw spot starts and received considerable playing time return for line coaches Ruffin McNeill and Charlie Sadler.
The trio of senior defensive end Adell Duckett and sophomore tackles Ken Scott and Chris Hudler return. Scott and Hudler settled in comfortably as starters during their redshirt freshman seasons a year ago, while Duckett was a second-year starter. Duckett led the Big 12 Conference with 24.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, while logging 69 tackles. Scott and Hudler were solid plugs in the middle, registering 27 and 20 tackles, respectively.
Sophomore end Seth Nitschmann started the first two games of the season before a nagging injury limited his action the remainder of the season. Nitschmann sat out spring drills and will be back when preseason practices begin; but he will face stiff competition from junior college transfer Brett Bischofberger for playing time. Bischofberger enrolled at Tech in January and impressed coaches with his quickness and strength and ability to pick up the defensive scheme in Nitschmann's absence.
Although Hudler returns as the starter at nose tackle, he will have to hold off a slimmer Fred Thrweatt when fall drills begin. Thrweatt, who weighed 333 entering last season, trimmed almost 20 pounds from his frame and was much quicker and agile during spring drills. Senior Patrice Majondo-Mwamba saw considerable playing time last season as a junior college transfer and will continue to see extensive action backing up Scott.
Despite playing behind Duckett last season, Keyunta Dawson managed to play in every game and registered five and half tackles for loss and four and half sacks during his true freshman season. Dawson has the potential to be another in the long line of outstanding defensive ends to play at Tech before his career is over.
Also vying for playing time are redshirt freshman Tyler Yenzer, senior walk-on Calvin Bradshaw, junior college transfer Deke Bake and junior Sione Havili at the ends, while junior tackle Randall Cherry will look for action at tackle behind Scott and Majondo-Mwamba. Additionally, junior college transfer Charles Glover could come in and play immediately, while true freshmen Brian Jones and Jake Ratliff will work for playing time.
