Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury and select players spoke with the media following practice Wednesday afternoon. Here are some takeaways, quotes and notes from the midweek session.

· Kingsbury celebrated his 38th birthday today. He told the media that the team sung to him during the team meeting before practice, but that is all. Quarterback Nic Shimonek said the traditional birthday ice bath was out of the picture since Kingsbury is the boss.

· Birthday’s aside, Kingsbury mentioned his stars from Saturday’s scrimmage. Running backs Justin Stockton and Desmond Nisby were the first he named that stood out to him. Defensively, Vaughnte Dorsey, Nick McCann and Broderick Washington had solid outings in their first live scrimmage.

· He added that “some guys stepped up and hopefully” some more have a presence next scrimmage on Saturday.

· Nisby’s performance didn’t go unnoticed from his quarterback either. Shimonek said Nisby is picking up the system and that whoever gets in his way will be bulldozed. However, Kingsbury touched on some things Nisby needs to adjust on.

· “We really simplify what he has right now, but he’s picked it up,” Kingsbury said. “Obviously we throw the ball to our backs a bunch so that’s something he has to work on and pass protection. So we’ll take baby steps with him but he has the physical skill set. He’s a big, tough runner so hopefully we can utilize that to some capacity.”

· RBs DeMarcus Felton and Tre King were both in blue non-contact jerseys at practice today, and Kingsbury said they’ll both still be in blue for a few more days. Felton and King are going to be eased in through the rest of the week and have a shot at playing a couple of minutes during Saturday’s scrimmage. By Monday, Kingsbury said they’ll both be able to go through full practice.

· DE Eli Howard and WR Antoine Wesley are in the same boat as Felton and King when it comes to seeing the field.

· This offseason, Kingsbury said he has to be smart when using practices as the NCAA implements a 29-practice session rule. He plans on mixing the schedule up when it comes to how hard he pushes the team. He is aiming to have around 25 practices before the Red Raiders’ first game on Sept. 2

· McLane Carter’s performance this past Saturday showed how he is being brought up in Texas Tech’s system. Kingsbury said he tries to manage how much he gives Carter to learn and take in since he has only been around for seven months.

· On the subject of quarterbacks, Kingsbury said Jett Duffey wouldn’t participate in this Saturday’s scrimmage since he has to get readjusted to a helmet and such.

· “I feel comfortable to where he’s heading. He’s improved dramatically, McLane has too since the spring. He’s been working hard. He’s got to get back in the groove and the rhythm, but we got three weeks with him before our first game, so I feel comfortable that by week one that we’re going to have a guy to feel great about putting in and executing our offense.

· Now, Kingsbury said he knows what they have with Payne Sullins so they’re trying to force some more reps on Carter at this time.

· Kingbsury switched levels for a quick question about former Red Raider Patrick Mahomes, who has been shining in his first offseason in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

· Former Texas Tech coach Mike Smith, who serves as assistant defensive line coach in Kansas City, has told Kingsbury that Mahomes is doing the same thing as he did in a Red Raider uniform. Kingsbury said he hopes Mahomes gets the Aaron Rodgers treatment and sits behind a veteran, like Alex Smith, to not rush the process of his development. Mahomes on the other hand is expected to see his first NFL action during the Chiefs’ first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.

· “The sky’s the limit with his potential and his ability, but I know they want him developed to make sure when he goes in he’s at his peak and can operate at a high level.”

· Talor Nunez and Kisean Allen were both available for quotes on Wednesday as well, but both hit on the play at linebacker from Dakota Allen and Jordyn Brooks.

· Nunez said if the defensive line does its job then Allen and Brooks become even better.

· “They’re already amazing athletes and amazing linebackers and they read their blocks a lot faster than normal linebackers do. So when we do our job they are ten times better than they already are.”

· Allen said the first team consists of a mixture of players in the secondary which is made up of D.J. Polite-Bray, Jah’Shawn Johnson, Desmon Smith, Vaughnte Dorsey, Douglas Coleman, Justus Parker and Allen.

· With today’s practice behind them, Kingsbury and Shimonek both touched on the passing of walk-on QB Luke Gonsioroski. Gonsioroski committed to Texas Tech back in January and Kingsbury said he is an inspiration to the team.

· “It’s been, I think, a sobering experience,” Kingsbury said. “Luke is an unbelievable young man, in every sense of the word."

-Kingsbury said he couldn’t tell Luke was in bad shape after texting with him recently. He said Luke would say he was doing fine, which showed just what kind of a person he was.

· Shimonek, fighting back emotions, said Luke is someone that everyone can look up to. He said Luke lived his life like there was no tomorrow.

· “Whenever he came in the spring and I talked to him, you would’ve never known anything was wrong with him. Great kid, obviously. Wish he could’ve came here. He could’ve definitely helped us. At least from a mental standpoint ... we could all learn something from him, and I’m going to try and do something every single game ... in his honor.”