Texas Tech University Athletics
Nine Seniors Expected to Return for 2021 Season
January 02, 2021 | Football
Texas Tech’s list of returning seniors includes seven starters with five coming on defense
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells announced Saturday that nine Red Raider seniors have indicated they will return for the 2021 season, including seven starters on both sides of the ball.
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"Our staff and I are thankful these nine seniors and their families have entrusted us with another year in our program," Wells said. "All nine of these seniors are key guys in our program, and we're looking forward to their continued development into what we hope is a memorable senior season."
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The list of seniors opting to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA includes five starters on defense in linebackers Colin Schooler, Riko Jeffers and Jacob Morgenstern as well as defensive backs DaMarcus Fields and Eric Monroe. Morgenstern split time between multiple positions in 2020, moving from linebacker to Tech's Spur position as needed.
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Tech is expected to bring back its four leading tacklers from this past season as Schooler ranked second with 63 takedowns followed by Monroe with 60 and Jeffers with 58. Returning junior Krishon Merriweather led the Red Raiders with 75 tackles, giving Tech possibly one of the most-experienced linebacker cores heading into the 2021 season.
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Between both Schooler and Jeffers, Tech will have two linebackers who have combined for more than 600 tackles over their career. Jeffers has totaled 227 tackles over his four seasons so far in Lubbock, while Schooler has 375 during his career at both Arizona and Tech as he currently ranks tied for second nationally among active FBS players.
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Offensively, Tech will benefit from the return of tight end Travis Koontz and offensive lineman Josh Burger. The duo combined for 19 starts this past season with Burger appearing in all 10 games at right tackle, while Koontz caught 14 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Burger has 38 starts over his career between his time at both Wofford and Tech.
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Fellow seniors McLane Mannix and Seth Collins have also communicated their desire to return for another senior season. Mannix and Collins both struggled with injuries this past season, appearing in only three and four games each, respectively, but have played important roles in years past.
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Mannix, a Freshman All-American at Nevada prior to transferring to Tech in 2019, caught 26 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2019. Collins, meanwhile, will be returning for a seventh season after switching to defensive back early in the 2020 campaign. He was a vital member of Tech's special teams units prior to his injury with four tackles on kickoff coverage alone.
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Tech had four members of its senior class decide to forego their remaining eligibility to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. That list includes Eli Howard, Thomas Leggett, Zech McPhearson and T.J. Vasher as well as junior Jack Anderson.
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"Our staff and I are thankful these nine seniors and their families have entrusted us with another year in our program," Wells said. "All nine of these seniors are key guys in our program, and we're looking forward to their continued development into what we hope is a memorable senior season."
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The list of seniors opting to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA includes five starters on defense in linebackers Colin Schooler, Riko Jeffers and Jacob Morgenstern as well as defensive backs DaMarcus Fields and Eric Monroe. Morgenstern split time between multiple positions in 2020, moving from linebacker to Tech's Spur position as needed.
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Tech is expected to bring back its four leading tacklers from this past season as Schooler ranked second with 63 takedowns followed by Monroe with 60 and Jeffers with 58. Returning junior Krishon Merriweather led the Red Raiders with 75 tackles, giving Tech possibly one of the most-experienced linebacker cores heading into the 2021 season.
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Between both Schooler and Jeffers, Tech will have two linebackers who have combined for more than 600 tackles over their career. Jeffers has totaled 227 tackles over his four seasons so far in Lubbock, while Schooler has 375 during his career at both Arizona and Tech as he currently ranks tied for second nationally among active FBS players.
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Offensively, Tech will benefit from the return of tight end Travis Koontz and offensive lineman Josh Burger. The duo combined for 19 starts this past season with Burger appearing in all 10 games at right tackle, while Koontz caught 14 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Burger has 38 starts over his career between his time at both Wofford and Tech.
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Fellow seniors McLane Mannix and Seth Collins have also communicated their desire to return for another senior season. Mannix and Collins both struggled with injuries this past season, appearing in only three and four games each, respectively, but have played important roles in years past.
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Mannix, a Freshman All-American at Nevada prior to transferring to Tech in 2019, caught 26 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2019. Collins, meanwhile, will be returning for a seventh season after switching to defensive back early in the 2020 campaign. He was a vital member of Tech's special teams units prior to his injury with four tackles on kickoff coverage alone.
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Tech had four members of its senior class decide to forego their remaining eligibility to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. That list includes Eli Howard, Thomas Leggett, Zech McPhearson and T.J. Vasher as well as junior Jack Anderson.
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Can't wait to get back out there with these nine seniors! #WreckEm ???? pic.twitter.com/mdiP5N2Its
— Matt Wells TT (@TTUCoachWells) January 2, 2021
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