Texas Tech University Athletics
Captains Named for West Virginia
November 07, 2019 | Football
Texas Tech’s four captains chosen from a group of 16 captains that were elected for the 2019 season
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells announced Thursday this week's captains as the Red Raiders head to Morgantown to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers this Saturday at 11 a.m. from Milan Puskar Stadium.
Of the 16 captains elected prior to the start of the season, Douglas Coleman III, Riko Jeffers, SaRodorick Thompson and Jax Welch will represent the Red Raiders at midfield during the coin toss against the Mountaineers.
Coleman enters the weekend as the FBS leader with seven interceptions. The senior safety is one of only two Red Raiders in the Big 12 era to pick off seven passes in a season. Coleman was recently named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as well as a Midseason All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News and The Athletic.
Jeffers has provided consistent support from his linebacker spot all season long for an improved defense on pace to allow the fewest points per game since 2009. The junior ranks second on the team in tackles this season behind the Big 12's leading tackler in Jordyn Brooks. He also heads to Morgantown ranked second among active Red Raiders in career tackles with 138.
Thompson has certainly risen to the competition level since the start of Big 12 play as he has led the Red Raiders in rushing six times this season en route to a team-leading 549 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. The redshirt freshman is in position to become the first Red Raider to rush for at least 800 yards in a season since 2015.
Welch, a junior running back that was put on scholarship at the conclusion of fall camp, heads into Morgantown with a promotion to the No. 3 running back spot on the depth chart with the recent injury news to Armand Shyne. The Odessa Permian product has played in all eight games this season and carried four times for 29 yards.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Montana St.: Jordyn Brooks, Travis Bruffy, Douglas Coleman III, Broderick Washington Jr.UTEP: Alan Bowman, Adrian Frye, Eli Howard, Jax Welch
Arizona: Xavier Benson, Ta'Zhawn Henry, Thomas Leggett, Terence Steele
Oklahoma: Jack Anderson, Travis Bruffy, Riko Jeffers, SaRodorick Thompson
Oklahoma St. Jordyn Brooks, Erik Ezukanma, Thomas Leggett, Broderick Washington Jr.
Baylor: Douglas Coleman III, Adrian Frye, Eli Howard, Terence Steele
Iowa St.: Xavier Benson, Riko Jeffers, Thomas Leggett, Jax Welch
Kansas: Jordyn Brooks, Broderick Washington Jr., Eli Howard, Erik Ezukanma
West Virginia: Douglas Coleman III, Riko Jeffers, SaRodorick Thompson, Jax Welch
FLAG BEARERS
Montana St.: Donta Thompson (Texas), Eli Howard (U.S.)UTEP: Ta'Zhawn Henry (Texas), Malik Essilfie (U.S.)
Arizona: Travis Bruffy (Texas), Austin McNamara (U.S.)
Oklahoma: Madison Akamnonu (Texas), Dadrion Taylor (U.S.)
Oklahoma St.: Dawson Deaton (Texas), Quentin Yontz (U.S.)
Baylor: Damarcus Fields (Texas), RJ Turner (U.S.)
Iowa St. Lonzell Gilmore (Texas), Douglas Coleman III (U.S.)
Kansas: Tony Bradford Jr. (Texas), Zech McPhearson (U.S.)
West Virginia: Terence Steele (Texas), Thomas Leggett (U.S.)
Game 9?? Captains in Morgantown.
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 7, 2019
??#WreckEm?? pic.twitter.com/GDV7wl4OAo
