Year End Superlatives: Who stuck out for Tech in 2016?
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2016 is in the books, and many different Red Raiders made plays for their respective teams throughout the calendar year to make Texas Tech fans proud. But which football, basketball, and baseball players really separated themselves from the pack? We take a closer look by handing out awards with year end superlatives.
Tougher Than A Two Dollar Steak Award - Quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Spraining the AC joint in your throwing shoulder would sideline most quarterbacks for a while. Stack spraining your OTHER AC joint and a wrist injury to boot, and most guys would understandably call it quits on the season. But not Mahomes. He gritted through all three injuries, pushing Tech past TCU and Baylor late. The junior QB's toughness deserves heaps and heaps of praise.
Destroyer of Worlds and Conqueror of Kingdoms Award - Forward Zach Smith
When you watch Zach Smith posterize opponents, vacuum in rebounds, and viciously block shots all over the court, often with his head above the rim, the freakish strangely becomes routine. And in no way should it. Smith does things on a regular basis that are jaw-dropping to those that have yet to become indoctrinated members of his church of vertical hypnosis. Smith is an explosive monster on the court. Cherish him while you can.
Iron Workhorse Award - Relief pitcher Hayden Howard
14.2 inning of work and only 4 runs allowed. That was Howard's stat line in the postseason for the Red Raiders. The reliever was absolute nails under the brightest lights on Tech's path to the College World Series, continuing his role as the workhorse of the bullpen. Any time the Red Raiders were in a must-win situation, Howard nearly always came in for a few innings of work. And he was stellar.
Mama There Goes That Man Award - Slot receiver KeKe Coutee
If any one player on the football team is in the running to take up Jakeem Grant's mantle, it's Coutee. The sophomore became an electric playmaker for the Red Raiders this fall, turning a handful of nothing plays into more than something with his moves and speed in the open field. He finished the season with an absolute bang too, catching eight balls for 221 yards against Baylor to finish second on the team in receiving on the season. Coutee oozes talent, and should he become more consistent, he very well could be one of the best receivers in the Big 12.
Captain Clutch Award - First baseman Eric Gutierrez
Baseball is a game dripping in romance from every seam, and the man better known as Gute certainly created a story worthy of the Texas Tech history books to end his senior season. He left Lubbock as one of the greatest to ever suit up and play on Dan Law Field, and the month of June capped off his career in poetic fashion.
After a cold start to the postseason, Gutierrez morphed into Captain Clutch against East Carolina, driving in season-saving runs late against the Pirates to extend the Lubbock Super Regional to game three. And the senior never looked back after that, raking in hits and RBIs left and right to close out his final ride, including a two run homer against Florida in the College World Series that would ultimately be the difference as the Red Raiders sent the top ranked Gators packing.
Eric Gutierrez is Captain Clutch. He earned that.
Dagger Dropper Award - Guard Keenan Evans
Evans has become an extremely effective scorer behind the arc as a junior so far this season, but last spring he was still developing his three point shot. And that's what made it all the more impressive when he would drop daggers from the three point line in clutch situations when the Red Raiders went on their end of season run to make the NCAA Tourney. Evans became a player that would rise to the challenge when called upon, including his unbelievable falling bank-three that electrified the USA when Iowa State came to town, a play that you can argue was the catalyst for Tech's hot finish.
Freshman Phenom Award - Starting pitcher Davis Martin
If anyone told you they saw Davis Martin's freshman campaign coming, they'd be lying to you. He was an unknown to most Tech baseball fans going into the year, but he quickly became the go-to, premiere Friday night starter for the Red Raiders. And boy was he fun to watch. The freshman all-American was arguably the best pitcher in the Big 12, which is absolutely incredible to consider. He finished the year with a 2.54 ERA, the second lowest in all of the conference.
From Zero To Hero Award - Slot receiver Jonathan Giles
There's no player on campus that made a bigger jump from year one to year two as a Red Raider in 2016 than Giles. He was purely a spot player in 2015 as a true freshman, coming in mostly to give Ian Sadler a breather at times. That all changed this fall, as Giles exploded onto the season from the get-go, proving himself as a highlight-reel YAC-machine that caught everything Mahomes threw in his direction. His pace slowed down in the second half of the season once teams began keying in on him, but Giles has a very bright future.