Kingsbury knows what’s at stake for him and staff in 2017

The Big 12 coach thought to be on the hottest seat in the conference strode to the stage for his segment with reporters on the first day of Media Days July 17.

“I think it comes with the territory,” Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “Obviously we know what’s at stake. We know we have to be much improved. I think that everybody but the four who make the playoff every year are basically on the hot seat in college football. You’re coaching for your job every year, and we know that.”

Still, it hasn’t been all bad for the Red Raiders (5-7 in 2016).

Patrick Mahomes was drafted No. 10 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, who traded 17 spots up to nab him.

Kingsbury said the Chiefs loved Mahomes for weeks before they got him and credited the quarterback for the all the success he’s worked hard to achieve.

“I think it says more about him and his passion and the type of person he is,” Kingsbury said. “He’s incredibly talented. People got around him and got to know him. He’s first class. He was the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. I think that’s what it’s all about.”

Texas Tech will have a new gunslinger operating its Air Raid Offense, senior Nic Shimonek, who has waited his turn for two years.

While Shimonek played in two games that included wins over Stephen F. Austin and Kansas and appeared in losses to West Virginia and Iowa State, Kingsbury said the quarterback got numerous repetitions with the starters when Mahomes couldn’t practice because of a shoulder injury last year.

“Nic is a fifth-year senior going into his fourth year in our system,” Kingsbury said. “He got some good meaningful times in games last year and played really well, and he had a tremendous spring. With the supporting cast around him, we expect him to play at a high level.”

It didn’t take long, however, for the questions about the Red Raiders’ defense to start. Kingsbury was asked three out of four questions about that side of the ball.

Why has the defense been so bad and how are you going to fix it?

Kingsbury took blame for the defense, which ranked among the worst in the league.

He noted that defensive coordinator David Gibbs took over the unit in the middle of the season two years ago. But this will be the first time in three years the Red Raiders have the same defensive coordinator for the first time in three years.

“It wasn’t the greatest situation, no question, and he’s still working through that,” the head coach said. “He’s been able to bring his players that fit his scheme. He’s been able to bring in coaches that he’s comfortable with. So I expect to see us be improved.”

Kingsbury said he liked what he saw in the spring from the defense, adding the players were young a year ago.

“I’m hoping those snaps pay dividends going into this year,” he said.

One defensive player who is making his return to the team is junior linebacker Dakota Allen, who was dismissed in May 2016 for “failure to uphold student-athlete expectations.” He spent last season helping East Mississippi Community College finish second in the National Junior College Athletic Association after the team posted an 11-1 over all record.

The coach praised the linebacker for paying the price to return to Lubbock, noting he has been open with his teammates about his past and has been a positive role model for them.

“He earned his way back and was a tremendous player for us his freshman year,” Kingsbury said. “He expect him to pick right where he left off.”

The coach’s most interesting comment, however, revolved around  junior receiver Cameron Batson. Kingsbury said he was asked which of his players has the potential to be his boss one day. He chose Batson because the youngster was valedictorian of his high school class, is on track to graduate in three-and-a-half years with honors, and is a tremendous young man.

“He’s one of the toughest kids we have on our team and one of the fastest kids,” the coach said. “I think he is the fastest player we have on our team.”