(J-MART NOTE: This is a somewhat new feature to add some perspective on Kansas State’s upcoming foe. It might be a star player, an assistant coach, a cheerleader, whatever. If you have suggestions for Texas A&M, next week’s opponent, list them below. Thanks.)
His first reaction is laughter.
Texas Tech sophomore Baron Batch can’t help but be amused when he’s asked about the Red Raiders’ sudden inclination to use their running backs to, well, run the ball.
“People are like, ‘Hey, you have a running game,’” Batch said.
Batch teams with senior Shannon Woods to form a highly productive tandem in the backfield. Tech averages 146.5 yards on the ground, which is 66th in the nation. And with all things considered — mostly the fact that Graham Harrell threw for 5,705 yards in 2007 — that is a significant upgrade from last season, when the Red Raiders were so one-dimensional.
Not anymore.
Already, Tech has 586 rushing yards. In 2007, in 13 games, the Red Raiders finished with 771.