Texas Tech Football: Why Justin Stockton Is Crucial to the Red Raiders' Success

In early January 2013, Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury made an addition to his coaching staff that didn't make many headlines or create much buzz around the country.  On that day, he hired former high school coach Mike Jinks to coach the Red Raiders running backs in Lubbock.

Jinks was in the later stages of building a high school juggernaut in a San Antonio suburb.  Before Jinks’ departure, the Steele Knights were one of the best teams in the country, with a roster loaded with Division 1-caliber talent. 

While Kingsbury’s decision to hire Jinks as running backs coach didn't look like a game-changing move on paper, the move paid dividends only 10 days later.

Then, Steele running back Justin Stockton committed to Texas Tech.  He was the most highly touted recruit of the Kingsbury era to that point.  Whether or not Stockton’s commitment was based solely on Jink’s presence is unknown, but it had to have helped.

He was a 4-star recruit, according to ESPN Recruiting Nation, and had a very productive high school career.  As a senior, he rushed for 2,159 yards and scored 38 touchdowns.  For his career, he amassed over 6,000 yards on the ground and averaged a phenomenal 11 yards per carry.  He was rewarded for his terrific senior season, as he was one of the running backs named to the Associated Press Class 5A All-State first team.

Stockton showed up on the High Plains with several other backs ahead of him, but after Kenny Williams moved to linebacker and Stockton showed his explosive big-play ability, he found himself in line for a decent number of touches as a true freshman.

In the Red Raiders’ opening game against Central Arkansas, Stockton rushed for 38 yards on six carries.  He also recorded his first collegiate touchdown, a six-yard run, to give Tech a 21-16 lead before the end of the first half.

If you think that was pressure, it gets better.  Just a week later, in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, the Red Raiders found themselves locked in a dogfight against heavy underdog UTEP. 

After the Miners churned out a long 11-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock, Kingsbury’s squad had only five minutes, five seconds left in the game and needed a touchdown. 

The blustery winds of the Sun Bowl had thrown off Davis Webb’s passing a little bit, so they needed Stockton to lead them down the field.  Stockton broke off long runs of 24 and 20 yards to get the Red Raiders into position to win the game.  Webb promptly found Bradley Marquez in the end zone for his third receiving touchdown of the game, but they wouldn't have been in position to do that if not for Stockton.

The 5’9” true freshman has an impressive and diverse skill set.  He can run the ball between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield as well as effectively return kicks and punts.  An example of his explosiveness and wide array of talents came in the San Antonio All-Star Game, when Stockton scored five touchdowns, three of those on kickoff returns.

After Kenny Williams moved over to linebacker in an attempt to solidify a defense that couldn't stop the run last year, it put a lot of pressure on the other running backs.  Junior DeAndre Washington has the most experience of the running back core and also was a 4-star recruit, but Stockton is the dynamic change-of-pace back that gives yet another option for the Red Raiders.

For Tech’s offense to start firing on all cylinders, they need Stockton to break off more runs like he did on that last drive against UTEP.   

The Red Raiders have struggled a bit of late, but they still have the necessary weapons to have one of the most prolific offenses in the nation.  They have a quarterback, Davis Webb, who has all the tools to engineer Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense, three talented running backs who have the ability to rotate and keep their legs fresh and a slew of receivers with big-play ability.

However, they had plenty of firepower last season when they went 8-5.  One of the biggest differences this year, though, is Stockton.  He adds a kind of offensive presence that you don’t see very often.  Texas Tech has had several solid running backs this century, but Stockton has the potential to be better than any of them.

He has breakaway speed, as he was a decorated track star in high school, and his outstanding vision and elusiveness make him a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball.

Expect Kingsbury to incorporate Stockton into the offense as much as possible.  He can line up in the backfield or as a slot receiver, and that kind of versatility is an offensive play-caller’s dream.  He will probably be the second option to get carries in his freshman year, but as he gets more familiar with the offense and grows a bit, he should develop into one of the most productive backs in the Big 12.

The Red Raiders still have huge question marks on the defensive side of the ball, which is why they need all of their young skill players to blossom into terrific college players if they hope to compete with the other high-powered offensive attacks in their conference.

Stockton will be a vital part of the offense this season, and as he goes, so will Texas Tech.  It might seem odd that a backup running back has such a vital role in the team’s success, but he has the talent to serve as a tremendous complement to Washington. He might even match Washington’s touches as he works his way into different packages and personnel groups.

If Stockton continues to run wild when the Red Raiders face better defenses in the heart of their schedule, the offense will thrive and might even be a dark horse for the Big 12 championship.

If not this year, then definitely before Stockton uses up his eligibility.