Texas Tech Football Position Previews: Quarterback

Photo CC: usatoday.com

The Red Raiders are heading into the 2nd year of the Matt Wells era. Year one didn’t go quite as planned as the team went 4-8. Some of this can be attributed to injuries and the position that suffered one of the biggest losses was that of QB. Alan Bowman started the first three games of the season but sustained an injury in Tucson, AZ against the Wildcats of Arizona in week 3. Jett Duffey would come in and start the remaining nine games for the Red Raiders and show flashes as the Tech signal-caller. Overall, the season didn’t go to plan at the QB position, but that may change in 2020. With Bowman and Maverick McIvor healthy with another year of experience in Yost’s system as well as Utah State transfer Henry Colombi coming to the 806, the QB group looks to be strong. There are a couple of questions about the group going into 2020 though. What are the expectations for the group in 2020? Will Bowman stay healthy and continue towards his potential? These are huge questions for the Red Raiders, but here’s what to expect from the QB group in 2020.

Projected Depth Chart (As of August 2nd)

1st: Alan Bowman (R-So)

2nd: Maverick McIvor (R-Fr)

3rd: Henry Colombi (R- Jr)

4th: Donovan Smith (Fr)*

5th: Brylon Lawson-Young (So)*

*Redshirt Candidates

Alan Bowman (R-So)

The projected starter for the Red Raiders hasn’t had his first two years on campus go the way he wanted. We all know Bowman’s injury history and the scary punctured lung injury. He also sustained a shoulder injury in week 3 of the 2019 campaign and that would result in him redshirting the remainder of the season. In 2020, Bowman looks to be a man on a mission and one taking names along the way. Bowman has been vocal to the “haters” on social media posting tweets on his IG story weekly that talk negatively about him. Bowman’s talent cannot be denied, when he has completed the game as a starter, he has a record of 6-5 in 11 games. During those 11 games, he has 3658 yards with 23 TD’s and 10 Ints. He has shown flashes of being an upper-tier QB in the Big 12, he just needs to stay healthy. Another year in the Yost system should help slow the game down for him and allow him to take that next step.

Maverick McIvor (R-Fr)

McIvor came to the 806 with a lot of hype out of the high school ranks. During his senior year, McIvor was named 2-6A Offensive Player of the Year at Central High School in San Angelo, where he recorded 52 total TD’s and combined for over 4,200 yards of total offense. McIvor sustained a leg injury early on in preseason camp last season that kept him out till the final three weeks of the season where he was available if needed. He will look to push Bowman for the starter position in 2020.

Henry Colombi (R- Jr)

Colombi was a late add-on to the roster after deciding to transfer from Utah State to the 806. The addition of Colombi shouldn’t go unnoticed by Red Raider fans, he will look to get some reps in practice and help others in the QB room learn the Yost offense and terminology a bit quicker. He has the tools to help manage the game if needed for Tech.

Donovan Smith (Fr)

Talk about a wildcard. Smith was electric last season at Frenship HS right outside of Lubbock. His dad, DeAndre, is the Red Raiders RB coach and has helped Donovan progress his game. He is as athletic as they come at the QB position and has a chance to be the starter a Tech during his collegiate career IF he doesn’ switch positions. He has all the talent to be a successful QB, it just might take a couple of years for him to reach his potential.

Brylon Lawson-Young (So)

Another West Texas native, Brylon played his HS ball at Monterey in the LBK. He went on to play a year a Dodge City CC in Kansas where he finished the season with 1 TD and 7 Ints. He’s athletic at the QB position but just needs to manage the ball better to have a chance at seeing playing time at Tech in the future.