Returning starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 4
Kickers: 2

If you've been reading our Texas Tech analysis over the last few months, you'll notice how we keep comparing this program to Oklahoma's. They don't have the name or national recruiting base the Sooners do, but they have the same spirit in the coaching staff and a very athletic team. The offense could be great if QB Kliff Kingsbury keeps progressing and while the defense isn't dominant, they have a few super playmakers. 

Best Offensive Player: Junior QB Kliff Kingsbury. The 6-4 junior got better as the season went on, and now appears to have the offense down. 

Best Defensive Player: Senior SS Kevin Curtis and junior LB Lawrence Flugence. They two combined to make 277 tackles, 6 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.

The season will be a success if… they go to a bowl game again. This is such a nasty Big XII schedule that this will be a success if they beat a big boy and go to a bowl game. 

Key game: Oct. 13 at Kansas State. The Red Raiders will now just where their program is by this point and if they can pull off the win, they'll now they've arrived. 

Final Thoughts: We like Tech to be a strong program over the next few years, but they're still probably a year or two of solid recruits away from being a threat to win the Big XII South. The non-conference games are a cakewalk, but they must go to Texas and Nebraska in the Big XII. They must also host Kansas State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. They'll beat at least one of those big five, but they could also lose to Oklahoma State on the road.

Returning Starters: (8) SE Darrell Jones 6-3 195 Sr; LT Casey Keck 6-3 247 Soph; LG Matt Heider 6-5 305 Sr; C Toby Cecil 6-4 262 Soph; RG Rex Richards 6-4 299 Jr; QB Kliff Kingsbury 6-4 200 Jr; RB Ricky Williams 5-9 195 Sr; IR Wes Walker 5-9 185 Soph

The Skinny: The offense will become one of the best in the Big XII if the offensive line can improve and the running game can be more productive. The receivers need playmakers but we're not concerned about them. QB Kliff Kingsbury will become a college star.

Quarterbacks: We think junior Kliff Kingsbury is about to become a college football household name very, very soon. Under the tutelage of head coach Mike Leach, he'll put up monster numbers in this offense. He struggled at times last year but with that year under his belt, he's ready to blow up. We're not saying he's going to be Josh Heupel, but his numbers might be comparable. Kinsgsbury threw for 3418 yards and 21 TDs. If he cuts down on his 17 interceptions, he'll be one of the best in the Big XII. Behind him is sophomore B.J. Symons who was brilliant in the spring game going 22 of 35 for 274 yards.
GRADE: A-

Running Backs: The running game under Mike Leach might appear to be diminished, but ask Oklahoma how important it is to have a Quintin Griffin-like back to punch it in from the red-zone. Senior Ricky Williams returns for his 14th year at tailback after leading the team with a mere 421 yards rushing and 5 TDs. Most concerning was his 3.3 average yard per carry, but he finally looks 100% after his knee injury. The loss of junior Shaud WIlliams who's transferring will hurt the depth. 3rd leading rusher Wes Welker, a receiver, comes back after making a monster 6 carries running reverses last year along with Foy Munlin who carried the ball 13 times for 55 yards. Help is coming with freshman Ivory McCann, who has Quintin Griffin size, and JUCO transfer Loliki Bongo-Wanga who'll provide the power. 
GRADE: B

RECEIVERS: This is a big concern losing their top 2 receivers, Tim Baker and Derek Dorris. It's now up to senior Darrell Jones to be their new star catching 27 balls for 361 yards and a TD last year. 6-5, 205 pound JUCO transfer Anton Paige has been outstanding this spring and will be a big-time weapon. Redshirt freshman Nehemiah Glover will back him up. Sophomore Wes Welker caught 26 passes last year and will start at the other receiver spot with senior King Scovell seeing time as well. Sophomore Carlos Francis is the team's leading returning receiver catching 41 passes last year. Trey Haverty caught 9 passes for 140 yards in the spring game. Freshman Armon Dorrough is the big recruit coming in this fall. 194-pound sophomore Mickey Peters will take over the starting tight end role with 245 pound senior Cole Roberts backing him up.
GRADE: B

OFFENSIVE LINE: The line is undergoing the most work before their opener. All five starters return, but they have to get better. The left side returns set with the return of 247-pound sophomore Casey Keck at left tackle and 305-pound senior guard Matt Heider at guard. Redshirt freshman Cody Campbell has looked brilliant this spring and will battle Heider for the job. Sophomore Toby Cecil got on-the-job training at center last year. Junior Rex Richards started last year at right guard, but will have a fight on his hands with 302-pound senior Lance Williams who'll take over the starting job. Juniors Paul Erickson and Jason May will combine at right tackle.
GRADE: B-

Returning defensive starters:(4) LE Aaron Hunt 6-3 239 Jr; RT Robert Wyatt 6-1 301 Jr; MLB Lawrence Flugence 6-1 221 Jr; SS Kevin Curtis 6-3 209 Sr

The Skinny: We sort of liked this defense last year even though they gave up a ton of points. They've got two superstars in SS Kevin Curtis and MLB Lawrence Flugence, but they have several holes to fill on the line and major question marks at the corners and at outside LB

Defensive Line: The line never really stood out last year, but they weren't as bad as some make them out to be. They were solid against the run, but generated almost no pass rush. Junior Aaron Hunt made 71 tackles and led the team with 8 sacks. On the other side was junior Zeno McCoy who was a key reserve last season, but he left the team for personal reasons. Really, he felt he was being worked too hard by the coaching staff. JUCO transfer Josh Ratliff will take McCoy's place. Sophomore Lamont Anderson broke his leg last season, but returns in the middle and if he's 100% will be a huge boost to the line. 301-pound junior Robert Wyatt made 33 tackles clogging up the middle on the right side. This fall, they'll see what big-time recruit Fred Thrweatt can do. 
Grade: B

Linebackers: The linebackers return a superstar in the middle and two reserves on the outside. Junior Lawrence Flugence is a 221-pound rock who led the team with 156 tackles and was a backfield terror. He's the heart of the D and will have to be brilliant until junior Rusty Bucy, who made 19 tackles last year, and senior Jonathan Hawkins can get used to their starting roles. Hawkins is coming off an ankle injury which cost him all of last year. Sophomores Toby Shain in the middle and Jason Wesley on the outside are the key reserves.
Grade: B

Secondary: Four seniors will start in the secondary which gave up only 8 TDs last year. Senior Kevin Curtis is an All-Big XII talent at strong safety finishing 2nd on the team with 121 tackles and made 15 tackles for loss. In the last two years, Curtis has made a whopping 274 stops. Senior Paul McClendon made 29 stops last year and will start at free safety with sophomore B.J. Johnson pushing him for time. Sophomore Ryan Aycock will see time at both safety positions and will fight McClendon at free safety. The corners are untested, but Eric Cooper really came on this spring picking off two passes for TDs in the spring game. Seniors Ronaldi Ross and C.J. Johnson will hold down the starting spots for now, but the competition is open. Look out for freshmen Quincy Butler and DeWayne Brandon to come in and push for a starting corner spot while JUCO transfer Jose Hanson might be good enough to see time.
Grade: B-

Returning kickers: (1) P Clinton Greathouse 5-11 201 Jr.
Kickers: Junior punter Clinton Greathouse returns after averaging 39.5 yards per kick last year putting 8 inside the 20. He'll also get the crack at the starting placekicking job vacated by Chris Birkholz.
Grade: B-