Record-setting Tech punter planning to add kickoff duty

Austin McNamara set the Texas Tech single-season record for punting average two years ago, and barring a significant downturn next season will leave with the school record for career punting average too.

One of Tech coach Joey McGuire's objectives this off-season is for McNamara to add another skill to his toolbox. The Red Raiders want McNamara to double as their kickoff specialist.

"We've got the best punter in the country," McGuire said Thursday after the Red Raiders' fifth session of spring football practice. "We're hoping and expecting him to win the kickoff job. That would be really good for him. It'd be great for us, but it'd be really good for him, since we're talking about being a pro, for him to be able to go into the NFL and not only punt but kick off."

One of McNamara's mentors that predates his arrival at Tech in 2019 is Mike Vanderjagt, who spent four seasons in the CFL and nine in the NFL as a kicker. The two are similar in size, Vanderjagt listed at 6-foot-5 and 211 and McNamara now listed at 6-4 and 210.

McGuire said McNamara showing scouts he can kick off was a consideration in his decision to return on the Covid-bonus year for a fifth season.

His single-season averages of 45.0, 46.3, the school record 48.2 and 44.3 yards are four of the top eight in program history. Mark Bounds (46.8), Taylor Symmank (46.0), Alex Reyes (45,2) and Maury Buford (44.8) each have one season average in the top eight. McNamara's career average is 45.8, on pace to break Symmank's record of 43.7.

Not forgotten

McGuire said he was happy to see Trey Wolff make field goals from 58 and 60 yards during Texas Tech's pro day on Wednesday. He pointed out that a slew of Wolff's clutch kicks factored into the Red Raiders going 8-5 last season.

"When this is all said and done," McGuire said, "I hope people will go back and think about the kicks that he made this year. They're some of the best kicks probably in the history of Texas Tech football on getting us going in the direction that we're going, so I was really proud of the way he kicked the ball yesterday."

Last season, Tech beat Houston, Texas and Oklahoma in overtime. In those games, Wolff made field goals near the end of regulation against Houston (47 yards with 3 seconds left), Texas (45 yards with 21 seconds left) and Oklahoma (43 yards with three seconds left), then the game winners in OT against Texas (20 yards) and Oklahoma (35 yards).

Keep an eye on

Linebacker Ben Roberts, a 6-3, 230-pound redshirt freshman from Fort Worth Eaton, earned praise from McGuire for the promise he's showing.

"I don't want to say surprise," McGuire said, "but if there's been a guy that's really stepped up — like, whoa — it's probably Ben. He's got a really good feel for dropping in the pass game. That's because he played safety in high school and kind of grew into a linebacker, but really excited about him."

Tech used a four-man rotation last year at inside linebacker with Krishon Merriweather backed by Tyrique Matthews to the field side and Kosi Eldridge backed by Jacob Rodriguez to the boundary side. Roberts and fellow 2022 signee Ty Kana redshirted.

Merriweather is out of eligibility. Rodriguez is sitting out this spring to let his body heal from last season. Tech continues to await a ruling from the NCAA on whether Eldridge can have a year of eligibility restored for his injury-shortened 2018 season at Kilgore College.

Eldridge went through the Tech pro day Wednesday, which he can do without jeopardizing his eligibility, having not signed with an agent.

"The closer it gets to the draft," McGuire said, "the more imperative it is we get an answer."

Jesiah Pierre switched before spring to field inside linebacker from boundary end, where he emerged as a playmaker the second half of last season. The Red Raiders are optimistic Pierre can rush up the middle with the same effectiveness as he did off the edge.

"Jesiah, I'm really excited about him," McGuire said, "because there's people who rush from that position (on the inside) that are kind of like natural pass rushers. I've coached some of them. Jesiah brings that. ... He has pass-rush ability, and he's got some knack. Playing outside linebacker and rushing the passer, he developed some more moves."

Quick hits

Center Sheridan Wilson suffered a broken bone in his left hand Saturday during the team's first practice with pads. He was sidelined and wearing a cast during Thursday's practice, though McGuire said if the Red Raiders were in season, Wilson could play with a padded cast.

Tech scrimmages Saturday, and McGuire said Wilson could be back for the next scrimmage the Saturday after that.

The 6-5, 295-pound Argyle graduate was the second-team center late last season as a true freshman and earned raves.

"That kid so incredible," McGuire said. "He loves football. He absolutely loves football. He's one of the hardest workers we have on the team, and it's impressive for a young kid." ...

Wide receiver Loic Fouonji (hamstring) and linebacker Mike Dingle (AC joint sprain) have missed time, but their injuries aren't thought to be serious. McGuire said he expects Fouonji to run routes on air Saturday and return to practice Tuesday. Dingle suffered his shoulder injury during the first practice in pads last week and will return when he feels comfortable making contact, McGuire said. ...

McGuire said he expects to sign about 18 players for Tech's 2023 recruiting class.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tech football notebook: Record-setting punter planning to add kickoff duty