Veterans hoping their leadership can change Texas Tech football in 2017

FRISCO, TX - The Red Raiders made their way out to the Metroplex for Big 12 Media Days on Monday, sharing their thoughts from inside the program as to what this version of Texas Tech football might look like in 2017.

Tech's four team representatives were senior receivers Cam Batson and Dylan Cantrell, junior safety Jah'Shawn Johnson, and junior receiver KeKe Coutee, all of whom earned their place at the event by what they've done for this team, both on and off the field.

Those four veterans were asked the same things throughout the day, including why people should believe that this team in particular can improve the fortunes of Texas Tech football after an admittedly down three year stretch going back to 2014.

If you ask Cantrell, he'll tell you it's because of how close this group has become, starting with the leadership from himself and the other seasoned vets.

"We have great leadership on this team, and it comes from the players, not just the coaches. In the past, coaches would be the only ones hyping everyone up, and now that's coming from the players. We work hard to hold each other accountable in every aspect. You're always optimistic every single year, but definitely there's a different feeling around the facility and this team than ever before."

That starts with their head coach, who's tried to instill in them the idea of legacy.

"Coach Kingsbury talks all the time to us about leaving a legacy, so we're doing everything we can to leave one for what we accomplish, but more importantly for guys coming up to have something to strive for. We're just a bunch of hard working guys that play for each other and do everything they can to help their teammates win. We're an unselfish group of guys, and we just try to play hard to win on every snap."

But Jah'Shawn Johnson, as the top spokesman for the defense, agrees with Cantrell. This group is tight knit, and that starts on the field.

"I feel like we're a lot closer than we've ever been. I can't speak about teams I wasn't on, but this team now, it's as close as I've had since I've been here at Tech. Everyone trusts each other on the field, and that's key. If you know you can trust the guy next to you, you can play hard, and you can play fast. I've seen guys just fly around all spring and summer. Everyone wants to make the play. No one is counting on someone else to make it. Guys get jealous when other guys make plays, and I just love that about this team. It makes your job easier."

But that leadership isn't something that just materializes over night. It's built through persistence by the trusted voices inside the locker room. So, Johnson and his fellow leaders decided that they were going to be those voices.

"We knew we had to be the ones that play. Coaches coach, and players play. We felt that the guys on the team react well to their teammates better than they do coaches. Coaches coach you hard, and you don't agree with everything, but when you hear things from a fellow player, it means more. Guys have done a great job of respecting us and listening to what we're saying as leaders, and we do the same for them. It's just a lot closer than it has been in the past, and that's a great sign at this point."

But as Cam Batson noted, flat out being ready to start winning had something to do with the change, too.

"We're tired of being mediocre. We want to be the best. We're coming in on Saturdays, having voluntary work outs. You see guys out here wanting to perfect their craft, so there's a lot of greatness that wants to be accomplished in that building right now."

"Everybody has just taken the initiative of wanting to be the best that you can possibly be. You want to be the best version of yourself personally. You come to Texas Tech, and you want to win. You want to be the best player you can possibly be. Lazy players don't win. You can't get the most out of it if you don't work hard. We want to show those guys. You show those guys a good work ethic, and they can follow your lead. Then it just trickles down. If you do that, you can build generations of tradition and great teams."

And as their head coach noted, this group has grown and matured through some tough times. They've seen a lot of ups and downs, and they want to be the group to change the program's fortunes.

"They're just grown ups now, and I think that's the thing you see if you talk to any of those three or four guys," Kingsbury said. "They're impressive young men. They take a lot of pride in Texas Tech. They've been through the ringer, they feel like this is their year to get it turned, and they want to get it turned. It's their team. We handed the reins over to them, and there's been a ton more accountability coming from them. I think they've embraced it."

"They're fiery, and they're a proud group. None of us thought last year was acceptable. Them being at the front of that, leading the charge has been great for us this offseason."