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With all the experienced players the Texas Tech football program has taken from the transfer portal the past few years, it's become less common for the Red Raiders to stage a position battle among young, home-grown players they signed out of high school.
This spring, though, they have one among safeties Peyton Morgan, Oliver Miles and Malik Esquerra, all sophomores they signed as Texas state top-100 recruits. Depending on what unfolds between now and the Sept. 5 season opener against Abilene Christian, Tech figures to open with returning starter Brenden Jordan at field safety, the position he played last year, and Esquerra at boundary safety or Jordan at boundary safety and Morgan or Miles at field safety.
One setback: Tech coach Joey McGuire said on Monday, April 6, that Miles suffered a sprained ankle the first week of spring practice, giving Morgan and Esquerra more opportunity to compete so far.
"I've been really proud of both of those guys," McGuire said. "They're showing up. It's their turn, and it's their time. They've put the work in, and they understand the defense — year two being in the defense, but year three of them being in college. The one thing that's showing up with Peyton Morgan ... He's a ball hawk. He had a big interception on Saturday, just the amount of ground that he can cover and he's got great ball skills."
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Morgan, 6-foot and 180 pounds, had nine interceptions his senior year at Pflugerville Weiss. Esquerra, listed by Tech at 6-3 and 210 pounds, was a two-time first-team all-district player at Killeen Shoemaker.
"Malik, physically, man, he looks really good right now," McGuire said. "He's probably between 212 and 215 pounds. That guy to the boundary's got to be able to come down in the box and be in the run fit at times, depending on what coach (Shiel) Wood calls. I've been proud of both of those guys. We feel like we have good depth."
Jordan gives the Red Raiders flexibility. The senior from Mansfield started every game last year at field safety after starting seven games the previous two years at star, Tech's hybrid safety/outside linebacker.
The departure of Cole Wisniewski, last year's boundary safety and third-leading tackler, opens the opportunity for the three sophomores. Each has played a little since arriving at Tech, but none significantly more than the others.
More: Texas Tech football giving young offensive player a look on defense
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McGuire said Miles is expected back in action on Tuesday, April 7, when the Red Raiders have their ninth spring practice of the 15 allotted by NCAA rule.
In general, Tech's field safety plays a center-field-type role and is often the deepest man on the back end. He lines up to the wide side of the field. The boundary safety lines up to the tight side, and usually closer to the line of scrimmage.
"Peyton and Oliver are very similar skill sets. They're more of a cover style of safety," said co-defensive coordinator Rob Greene, their position coach. "They're really good reactors. They can close space on receivers. It's almost like having another corner out there from a coverage ability standpoint. Both of them have shown the ability to go tackle in games they were in last year."
More: Who leads in battle for Texas Tech football No. 2 QB?
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Wisniewski measured 6-3 1/4 and 219 on Tech's pro day March 26. Greene said Esquerra looks more like Wisniewski.
"He brings more length and physicality into the box," Greene said. "He also won the hurdles state championship at some point in high school, was a track guy, so he's got some fluidity and flexibility to play some of the deep zones that we're going to ask him to play and cover a lot of ground."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Peyton Morgan, Malik Esquerra rising in Texas Tech football battle
Continue reading...
This spring, though, they have one among safeties Peyton Morgan, Oliver Miles and Malik Esquerra, all sophomores they signed as Texas state top-100 recruits. Depending on what unfolds between now and the Sept. 5 season opener against Abilene Christian, Tech figures to open with returning starter Brenden Jordan at field safety, the position he played last year, and Esquerra at boundary safety or Jordan at boundary safety and Morgan or Miles at field safety.
One setback: Tech coach Joey McGuire said on Monday, April 6, that Miles suffered a sprained ankle the first week of spring practice, giving Morgan and Esquerra more opportunity to compete so far.
"I've been really proud of both of those guys," McGuire said. "They're showing up. It's their turn, and it's their time. They've put the work in, and they understand the defense — year two being in the defense, but year three of them being in college. The one thing that's showing up with Peyton Morgan ... He's a ball hawk. He had a big interception on Saturday, just the amount of ground that he can cover and he's got great ball skills."
More: Joey McGuire says Texas Tech football O-line roles taking shape
More: Joey McGuire offers a what-for to Texas Tech football-UH date change
Morgan, 6-foot and 180 pounds, had nine interceptions his senior year at Pflugerville Weiss. Esquerra, listed by Tech at 6-3 and 210 pounds, was a two-time first-team all-district player at Killeen Shoemaker.
"Malik, physically, man, he looks really good right now," McGuire said. "He's probably between 212 and 215 pounds. That guy to the boundary's got to be able to come down in the box and be in the run fit at times, depending on what coach (Shiel) Wood calls. I've been proud of both of those guys. We feel like we have good depth."
Jordan gives the Red Raiders flexibility. The senior from Mansfield started every game last year at field safety after starting seven games the previous two years at star, Tech's hybrid safety/outside linebacker.
The departure of Cole Wisniewski, last year's boundary safety and third-leading tackler, opens the opportunity for the three sophomores. Each has played a little since arriving at Tech, but none significantly more than the others.
More: Texas Tech football giving young offensive player a look on defense
More: Texas Tech football getting new-look Mack Leftwich in spring practice
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McGuire said Miles is expected back in action on Tuesday, April 7, when the Red Raiders have their ninth spring practice of the 15 allotted by NCAA rule.
In general, Tech's field safety plays a center-field-type role and is often the deepest man on the back end. He lines up to the wide side of the field. The boundary safety lines up to the tight side, and usually closer to the line of scrimmage.
"Peyton and Oliver are very similar skill sets. They're more of a cover style of safety," said co-defensive coordinator Rob Greene, their position coach. "They're really good reactors. They can close space on receivers. It's almost like having another corner out there from a coverage ability standpoint. Both of them have shown the ability to go tackle in games they were in last year."
More: Who leads in battle for Texas Tech football No. 2 QB?
More: Texas Tech football goes from one Alexander to another
You must be registered for see images attach
Wisniewski measured 6-3 1/4 and 219 on Tech's pro day March 26. Greene said Esquerra looks more like Wisniewski.
"He brings more length and physicality into the box," Greene said. "He also won the hurdles state championship at some point in high school, was a track guy, so he's got some fluidity and flexibility to play some of the deep zones that we're going to ask him to play and cover a lot of ground."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Peyton Morgan, Malik Esquerra rising in Texas Tech football battle
Continue reading...
