MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Running back Tahj Brooks and cornerback Bralyn Lux, both seniors, aren’t expected to play in the Texas Tech football season finale Friday night at the Liberty Bowl.
Tech athletics made the announcement shortly before Tech (8-4) and Arkansas (6-6) squared off at 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Tech said Brooks, Lux and wide receiver Josh Kelly all made personal decisions to not play. It was already known Kelly opted out of the game to begin training for the NFL draft process.
Also expected to miss the game on account of injury were defensive end Sam Carrell (foot), defensive tackle Quincy Ledet (knee), linebacker Bryce Ramirez (lower leg), defensive back Devynn Cromwell (shoulder) and quarterback Behren Morton (shoulder surgery).
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Brooks has been with the team throughout December, and Tech coach Joey McGuire said he participated in bowl practices in both Lubbock and Memphis. McGuire was coy about Brooks’ availability in a press conference the day before the game, saying it was “50-50” whether he would play.
The Red Raiders‘ top backup running backs are J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey, true freshmen who both played in nearly every game. They rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns between them during the regular season.
Brooks finishes his career with 4,557 yards rushing, which is officially the school record. He broke the mark of 4,219 yards that Byron Hanspard set from 1994-96. Hanspard’s career numbers don’t include the 360 yards rushing he accumulated in bowl games, including his Copper Bowl record 260 yards against Air Force, because the NCAA didn’t include stats from postseason games before 2002.
The absences of Morton, Brooks and Kelly leaves the Red Raiders without their leading passer, rusher and receiver.
Arkansas is without Andrew Armstrong, the Southeastern Conference’s leading receiver for catches and yards, as well as team rushing leader Ja’Quinden Jackson and team sacks leader Landon Jackson. All three declared for the NFL draft. The Razorbacks‘ attrition includes 11 starters.
Tech is a consensus three-point favorite in the game.
(This story has been updated with more information.)
