John Curry up for whatever Texas Tech football needs from the former Coronado Mustang
Growing up in Lubbock, the son of a pair of former Red Raiders himself, John Curry was a big fan of one Patrick Mahomes II, just like every other Texas Tech football fan during the multi-time Super Bowl champion's tenure in the scarlet and black.
Being a linebacker, though, Curry said he's also spent plenty of time watching highlights of Zach Thomas, the Pro Football Hall of Famer who's been spending quite a bit of time around the program recently.
"... I'm blown away by the plays he's making and how hard he was hitting," Curry said of Thomas' film, "and just how physical he was in making plays."
Josh Bookbinder, Tech's inside linebackers coach, is harping on Curry to shed his blocks and work downhill. He already knows Curry can get the job done side to side. The objective now is to become a more complete player.
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Curry saw action in five games for Texas Tech — including the Independence Bowl win over Cal — during his true freshman year, maintaining the year of eligibility while primarily playing on special teams. His second year on campus, Curry could be a valuable asset to the linebackers, though he's fine with whatever role's pressed onto him.
"I was just looking for a way to get onto the field last year," Curry said. "This year, I'm really just focused on what I can do to help our team win games. I don't care if that's whether I'm special teams or I'm getting 30-plus snaps a game on defense. I just really try to help us win games."
Looking at the film, and without knowing numbers, Curry could be mistaken for starting field inside linebacker Ben Roberts. The freshman all-American said coaches mistake him and Curry all the time because of their similar builds. Roberts is an inch taller and five pounds heavier than Curry, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds (Curry said Thursday he's 230 pounds) but the mistake could be forgiven.
"He's going to be really good," Roberts said. He also joked that with Jacob Rodriguez, the projected starter at boundary inside linebacker being a year older than he is and two years older than Curry, Roberts hopes Curry could replace Rodriguez down the road to confuse defenses who might not be able to tell them apart.
Roberts burst onto the scene last season while Rodriguez missed eight games due to a foot injury. Having the two together, and healthy, forms a talented tandem at the core of Texas Tech's defense.
Curry, though, figures to get a shot at spelling either guy. He said he's been working with both linebacker spots this spring, learning from the likes of Roberts, Rodriguez and Bryce Ramirez. Those veterans, Curry said, make him feel like he can go out and command the defense whenever his time does come.
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"John, in terms of younger guys, is really coming on," Bookbinder said Wednesday. "John's going to be a really good player here. Smart kid. High care factor. And he's got some talent."
Regardless of what his role with the team turns into by the Aug. 31 season opener against Abilene Christian, Curry is treating it the same as he did as a true freshman.
"Even when I got here last year," Curry said, "I was underweight, I was new to the defense. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I knew as soon as the season started, I was going to be just as prepared as the starters and no matter what, if I had to go in for some reason, I was going to be ready to go."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: John Curry up for whatever Texas Tech football needs
