Texas Tech named to Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech offensive line was named Thursday to the midseason honor roll for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the most-outstanding offensive line unit in college football.
The Red Raiders are one of 22 units nationally on the midseason honor roll and one of three from the Big 12 Conference, joining Kansas State and West Virginia. It is the first time Texas Tech has been honored on the midseason honor roll since the award was created prior to the 2015 season.
Through the first half of the season, the Red Raiders have been among the top offenses in college football with a balanced attack that has Texas Tech as the only school in the country with a top-10 leader in passing yards (Behren Morton), a top-15 leader in receiving yards (Josh Kelly) and a top-10 rusher like Tahj Brooks.
Brooks, in particular, has benefited from Texas Tech’s push up front as he leads the Big 12 and is fourth in the FBS currently with 679 rushing yards this season. Brooks, who missed the Washington State road trip earlier in the season, is only nine yards shy of his total at the same point of last season’s historic campaign where he became only the fifth Red Raider in program history to rush for at least 1,500 yards. Brooks is also third currently in the FBS for rushing yards per game (135.8) and tied for 14th in rushing touchdowns with seven.
In addition, the Red Raiders have been effective in giving Morton plenty of time in the pocket as the Red Raiders are averaging a Big 12-leading 39.3 points per game. Morton, meanwhile, has thrown for 1,640 passing yards thus far, which ranks ninth in the FBS as Texas Tech has been sacked seven times despite ranking tied for third nationally with 238 pass attempts.
Texas Tech’s success up front has come despite four different starting lineup combinations this season. The Red Raiders, who enter the open week on their schedule at 5-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in Big 12 play, are allowing a 22.9 percent pressure rate this season, third-lowest in the Big 12, as Texas Tech is averaging more time to pressure (2.7 seconds) than the average time to throw (2.54 seconds). The Red Raiders are one of only seven teams in the nation to do so and the second-highest time differential in the FBS.
The Joe Moore Award will trim its honor roll down to a select group of semifinalists Nov. 12 before naming three finalists on Dec 3. Selection of the 2024 winner will be made public after the award’s annual surprise visit to the winning university’s campus, which will likely be in late December.
The Joe Moore Award voting committee judges each offensive line unit on six different criteria: toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and finishing. Evaluations for the midseason honor roll were made exclusively through weekly review of actual game film, including offensive line coach provided cut-ups.
Texas Tech will look to extend its four-game winning streak in just over a week as the Red Raiders host Baylor on Oct. 19 for Homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium.
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Release Provided By Matt Dowdy Texas Tech Athletics