Joey McGuire visits Amarillo Country Club as part of Red Raider Wreck 'Em Tour
Summer is almost here, which means fall football is just around the corner. It also means spring football is just wrapping up and for Texas Tech, that means it's time for the Red Raider Club Wreck 'Em Tour.
After beginning its trek in Lubbock, the tour made its second stop Tuesday with a trip down to the Amarillo Country Club. The highlight of the stop was football coach Joey McGuire, who met with alumni, boosters, and media to talk about what's going on with the Red Raiders' football program.
In case you hadn't heard, it's a lot.
McGuire, who is entering his second season at the helm of the Tech football program, just completed his second spring in charge. Coming off a successful campaign in which the Red Raiders finished 8-5 and won the Texas Bowl, McGuire said this offseason was different in that last spring was about getting everyone to learn the new system and new staff. This year was all about increased comfort.
Tuesday, more than anything, was about getting people excite for what's to come.
"The biggest thing with any of this is to get around the fans and the alumni to pay back the support that they give us every single day and week we're playing," McGuire said. "I tell everybody, not only am I a part of Texas Tech and a part of Lubbock, but a part of West Texas, too. I understand how important Texas Tech is to these people so I want to make sure that they see us any chance that we get."
With all of that being said, it was only natural that questions about how the spring went came up. Two returning quarterbacks, new pieces on the defensive side and a couple of local kids all made for an interesting few weeks down in Lubbock. McGuire said the general feeling during spring practice was one of excitement.
"You could tell we were in year two just from the stats that we keep in spring," he said. "There was a lot of improvement from spring one to spring two."
While development is important, the biggest question is who has the edge to start at quarterback in the fall.
Former Oregon star Tyler Shough is back after throwing seven touchdowns compared to four interceptions last season in seven games. Shough also capped off his season by rushing for a career-high 111 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 242 yards and a TD as he led the Red Raiders to a 42-25 win in the Texas Bowl back in December — while also announcing his return thanks to a COVID bonus year during the postgame festivities. Behren Morton also returns after throwing seven touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games played.
McGuire wouldn't say which way he was leaning, if any, but he noted that both have made tremendous strides throughout the spring.
"We have a team meeting May 29, and we're getting closer and closer to naming a quarterback," McGuire said. "We feel great about both of them. Both of them I think can win at a very high level and I feel great no matter who is in there."
McGuire was also feeling great about former Red Raider Tyree Wilson, who was selected seventh overall in the 2023 NFL Draft last month by the Las Vegas Raiders. McGuire had tremendous praise for Wilson, while also adding that he feels the defensive line will have a chance to be even better this year.
"It was an incredible experience," McGuire said of watching the draft. "I was so excited for that kid. ... The guy had a Double T in his jacket. He was the only guy there that I saw representing his university. That shows the pride he has, and it was a great experience for us. We're going to use that a lot in recruiting.
"This is going to be crazy for me to say, but that (defensive line) room could be more productive losing a number one draft pick. I would take Tyree back in a second, but overall we have a deeper room. We have guys who have played a lot of football and we added Steve Linton (Syracuse defensive line transfer)."
Clarendon star Jmaury Davis will be heading to Lubbock this fall and McGuire said he was excited for that. Someone who is already there and made a real difference on special teams last season is Tascosa grad Joseph Plunk. McGuire praised Plunk for the progress he's made over the past year, adding he expects to see Joseph follow in his father Ken's footsteps one day.
"The good thing about Joseph is he's a coach on the field," McGuire said. "We play a five DB system with three safeties and the great thing about him is that he can play all three safeties. ... He can start on all the special teams and play at all three spots. I absolutely love that kid and he's going to be a good football player, but he's going to be a great coach. Hopefully he's on my staff some day."
The Wreck 'Em Tour continues this summer with stops all throughout the state. The next scheduled appearance is slated for Thursday in Odessa.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Joey McGuire visits Amarillo Country Club as part of Red Raider Wreck 'Em Tour
