5 Texas Tech players to watch against Iowa State football in 2024

AMES — Iowa State fell out of the Associated Press top 10 during its second bye week and is now tied at No. 11 with Clemson, which tumbled two spots while idle.

The Cyclones (7-0, 4-0) are now the Big 12’s second-highest-rated team behind fellow unbeaten BYU (8-0, 5-0), which climbed to No. 8 after a 37-24 win at UCF.

All of these rankings matter little, though, as ISU and the Cougars — along with No. 17 Kansas State and No. 23 Colorado — top the short list of conference title contenders.

Next up for the Cyclones: Suddenly struggling Texas Tech, which established itself as a dark horse pick to win the league before successive losses to Baylor and TCU.

The banged-up Red Raiders (5-3, 3-2) could field a highly regarded but first-time starting quarterback in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) matchup with ISU at Jack Trice Stadium, so expect plenty of surprises — and here are five red-and-black-clad players to know before kickoff:

RB Tahj Brooks

The 5-foot-10, 230-pound senior is an old-school workhorse out of the backfield.

Brooks has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in each game this season — and in 16 of the past 19 games dating back to early last season. He also rushed for between 95 and 98 yards in those three sub-100-yard efforts, so he’s one of the most consistent backs in the country and likely will be leaned on against the Cyclones.

Brooks ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing yards (925) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He’s also carried the ball 29 more times than Arizona State standout Cam Skattebo, who ranks second in the league in that category. Brooks has rushed for 37 touchdowns in his career — a lofty number that would rank No. 2 all-time at ISU (behind Breece Hall’s 50 rushing touchdowns).

WR Caleb Douglas

The 6-4, 205-pound junior from Missouri City, Texas, spent two seasons at Florida before transferring to Texas Tech.

He’s one of the Red Raiders’ top big-play threats in the passing game and ranks second on the team in touchdown catches with four. Douglas — along with Josh Kelly and Coy Eakin — helps form a high-performing receiving trio that can challenge opposing defenses in various ways.

Kelly leads Texas Tech in receptions with 60 and receiving yards with 609. Eakin has scored the most receiving touchdowns (six), but Douglas is averaging 118.3 receiving yards over the past three games. He’s snared nine catches in each of the past two games and provides his quarterback with a big sure-handed target in third-down situations.

QB Will Hammond (or Behren Morton)

Morton sustained what Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire tentatively deemed a collarbone injury in the first half of last week’s 35-34 loss at TCU and wore a sling in the second half of that game.

It’s unclear, as of Monday afternoon, if the veteran can make a semi-miraculous recovery to play Saturday in Ames, but Texas Tech has lots of confidence in his backup, Will Hammond, who went 10-for-15 for 191 yards and one touchdown in the second half against the Horned Frogs.

Hammond, a true freshman, was a consensus four-star recruit who ranked among the top 15 prospects at the position according to all the major recruiting services. The 6-2, 205-pounder from Austin also has been efficient in limited duty despite losing a fumble in last week’s loss.

LB Jacob Rodriguez

Rodriquez leads Texas Tech in tackles with 70 and is coming off an injury redshirt season.

The 6-1, 230-pound junior from Wichita Falls, Texas, has forced two fumbles and recovered one. He’s tied for the team lead in passes defended with three, and before joining the Red Raiders, he played on the offensive side of the ball at Virginia.

S C.J. Baskerville

Baskerville’s another Texas-based talent who found his way back to his home state after spending two seasons at San Diego State.

The 6-3, 210-pound senior made an immediate impact last season, becoming the highest-rated player on the Red Raiders’ defense, according to Pro Football Focus. This season, Baskerville’s been even better. He’s tied for the team lead in interceptions with three and also ranks third in total tackles with 44.

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com