Texas Tech’s running backs shine in first camp scrimmage

Texas Tech’s running backs stole the show Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. The Red Raiders held their first intrasquad scrimmage of fall camp, giving the team a chance to put a compiled product on the field all at once. Head coach Joey McGuire has coined the RB room “The Committee” and they put on a show in the scrimmage.

“We’ve got running backs. Like if you said ‘what’s the biggest highlight on the offensive side of the ball,’ it’s us being able to run the football,” McGuire told the media post-scrimmage. “We’ve got three really good running backs. J’Koby Williams ended Redzone Lockout with a touchdown. Cam Dickey had some huge runs, really physical, just runs so angry. And then (Quinten) Joyner had some big runs, I think he also had a touchdown. The running back room really showed out. Adam Hill got a bunch with the threes. I thought he did well, we’re gonna expect him a lot on special teams. That running back room, really, really talented.”

Makeshift offensive line helps lead the way

McGuire was equally impressed with the offensive line blocking for those four backs. The group in the trenches was a bit of a makeshift bunch today, with Daniel Sill and Jacob Ponton getting reps with the first group.

Sill, who stands 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, took the place of Davion Carter at right guard. Carter graduated Saturday and missed the scrimmage. Ponton assumed the right tackle role from Hunter Zambrano, who is dealing with a back issue. McGuire expects Zambrano back practicing Monday.

Even with moving parts, the line did their job and the running backs stole the show.

“They all have a really good skillset. One reason Danny got to start at guard today, he’s playing right tackle and right guard, is because Mr. Carter graduated today,” McGuire noted. “(Davion’s) really fired up. He had a huge group of family come down for him to walk. He probably could’ve got a little of the first scrimmage and I was like ‘Dude, you get to do this one time. Let’s really make sure you take it all in.’ I was really proud of him. That’s the reason Daniel got in too. I thought those guys did a great job.”

RBs stole the show with unique traits

McGuire sees all four of the backs being able to contribute in the passing game, making receptions out of the back field. He touched on their physicality in picking up blitzes– which is also an area he said the room still needs to get better. Replacing Tahj Brooks in that department is an undersold aspect of the game.

The nickname “The Committee” has yet to catch on to the general audience. Once the season starts and the room get to show what they can do individually, that may change.

“I see a real shifty home run hitter in J’Koby. I see a guy, Q, great vision. He’s really, like, effortless. It’s almost like waves, how he moves,” McGuire said. “And then Cam Dickey just runs angry. He’s a ball of fury. If you saw Cam and he doesn’t have a shirt on or does have a tight shirt on, he’s just a ball of muscle at 218 pounds. Some guys say he’s like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Almost like he’s got a shell on his back because he’s just so rocked up. That’s a deep room and they play off each other. They compete, they’re really competitive.”