Dozen Tech returnees take new jerseys to start spring
Newly printed roster sheets will come in handy during Texas Tech spring football practice that started Tuesday.
A dozen returning players will wear different jersey numbers than last year, and Tech also announced uniform numbers for an influx of players new to the Red Raiders this spring.
The changes among the returnees:
■ Safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson from No. 25 to No. 1.
■ Wide receiver Jordan Brown from No. 86 to No. 4.
■ Defensive back Nate Floyd from No. 17 to No. 4.
■ Defensive lineman Myles Cole from No. 5 to No. 6.
■ Wide receiver Coy Eakin from No. 85 to No. 8.
■ Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez from No. 13 to No. 10.
■ Wide receiver Loic Fouonji from No. 19 to No. 11.
■ Safety Hut Graham from No. 14 to No. 13.
■ Defensive end Joseph Adedire from No. 43 to No. 14.
■ Defensive end Robert Wooten from No. 51 to No. 15.
■ Tight end Jayden York from No. 41 to No. 15.
■ Offensive guard Cole Spencer from No. 74 to No. 70.
■ Defensive tackle Quincy Ledet, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, will wear No. 5.
■ Defensive edge player Steve Linton, a transfer from Syracuse, will wear No. 7.
■ Star safety C.J. Baskerville, a transfer from San Diego State, will wear No. 9.
■ Wide receiver Drae McCray, a transfer from Austin Peay, will wear No. 10.
■ Kicker Gabe Showalter, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, will wear No. 38.
■ Defensive edge player Terrell Tilmon, a transfer from Oregon, will wear No. 45.
■ Center Rusty Staats, a transfer from Western Kentucky, will wear No. 53.
A dozen true freshmen also are on campus for spring practice. Quarterback Jake Strong is No. 17, edge player Dylan Spencer is No. 19, running back Anquan Willis is No. 24 and free safety Chapman Lewis is No. 25. Star safety Brenden Jordan is No. 27, cornerback Jordan Sanford is No. 28, linebacker Mike Dingle is No. 35, and defensive tackle Jayden Cofield is No. 51. Offensive lineman Kaden Carr is No. 54, offensive lineman Daniel Sill is No. 74, wide receiver Aiden Meeks is No. 85, and defensive lineman Braylon Rigsby is No. 94.
Tech's newly updated roster also shows redshirt freshman Erik Gray having switched to the defensive line after training at center last season.
The Red Raiders have 15 sessions of spring practice, ending with the annual spring game scheduled for noon April 22 at Lowrey Field/PlainsCapital Park.
Pierre changes position
Jesiah Pierre is moving from the boundary defensive end position he played last season to field-side linebacker, the spot where Tech loses starter and leading tackler Krishon Merriweather.
"That's where he was whenever we got here," Tech coach Joey McGuire said. "Picking up (Syracuse transfer) Steve Linton, the way Isaac Smith finished the year, we were able to move him (Pierre) back. He was really excited about that."
Awaiting Eldridge ruling
Tech continues to await an outcome on the status of boundary linebacker Kosi Eldridge for the 2023 season. Eldridge was a fifth-year senior last season, but Tech has petitioned on Eldridge's behalf to have a year restored for his injury-shortened 2018 season at Kilgore College.
Eldridge was at practice on Tuesday in street clothes.
"Right now, we're still waiting," McGuire said. "He has not put himself in position to where he would (make) himself ineligible. We're waiting. We've turned everything in. They're in the process of looking at it. We're trying to get him another year.
"He's here. He's working out. If we can't get another year, then he's going to go try to make a team in the NFL. If we can get him another year, then he'll be ready to roll."
Information gleaned from stats on the NJCAA website shows Eldridge having played in six games that season, but Eldridge said he played in four games and then had season-ending knee surgery.
He was second on the team last year with 91 tackles, including 2 1/2 sacks.
Spring sit-outs
McGuire said nine players are expected out for spring: defensive ends Joseph Adedire, Bryce Ramirez and Isaac Smith, defensive tackles Tony Bradford and Braylon Rigsby, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, safety Tyler Owens, wide receiver Brady Boyd and offensive guard Landon Peterson.
McGuire said several had off-season surgeries and are expected to be full participants again when conditioning work starts in June, though Ramirez could be a special case. He suffered a compound lower-leg fracture during his first career start last September at North Carolina State.
McGuire said Ramirez has been working out on an anti-gravity treadmill with his body weight partially supported. Barring setbacks before March 31, he should progress to running on flat ground while wearing a brace.
"He's doing a really good job and looks incredible," McGuire said.
Five others are partial participants this spring: tight end Mason Tharp, defensive tackle Trevon McAlpine, linebacker Bryce Robinson, cornerback Jalon Peoples and safety Landon Hullaby. McAlpine and Robinson missed last season recovering from knee surgeries. Peoples and Hullaby had shoulder surgeries in late fall.
Tharp practiced Tuesday in a gold jersey, meaning he's off limits to contact.
"His is precautionary," McGuire said.
The last word
McGuire on state of the team compared to where it left off after a 42-25 Texas Bowl victory against Mississippi: "The guys that were on the bowl team are probably going to be mad at me, but I think this team right now beats the bowl team by 14 points."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tech football notebook: Dozen returnees get new jerseys to start spring
