No change at corner

Texas Tech junior Brent Nickerson will make his fourth straight start in Saturday’s home game against Massachusetts. Senior L.A. Reed isn’t ready to reclaim his first-team spot.

“You’re talking about a guy that’s gotten three weeks of corner play and he’s missed four weeks,” cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell said Thursday. “We can’t do anything about that until he’s healthy and ready to go. Then we can overload him next week, and if he’s ready to go he’ll be the guy.”

Tech is open next week before starting Big 12 Conference play Oct. 4 at Kansas State.

Reed hurt an ankle in practice a month ago and played for the first time this season in the second half of last week’s victory over SMU. He got in for about 20 plays and showed some rust.

But it’s clear the Raiders want to get him back into the mix.

“It’s his job to gain right now,” Mitchell said. “I’m not going to take things away from Brent or guys that have been there every day working hard. He’s got to earn it. But I do know his athleticism helps this team, and we’ve got to find a role for him. If that’s starting or playing 40 snaps a game, I don’t know yet.”

Receivers rotation

Head coach Mike Leach said early in the week that he’d shuffle the receiving corps if need be to avoid a repeat of last week’s spotty play.

Wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons said the only change this week, though, will be adding Lyle Leong back into the mix. Leong, strapped to the bench the last two games because Simmons wasn’t happy with him, is redeeming himself.

“He just had two good weeks of practice,” Simmons said. “He’ll get some playing time. Other than that, we’ll go about business as usual.”

For Saturday, Leong will be second string to Edward Britton at split end, Rashad Hawk will back Mike Crabtree at flanker, and Todd Walker will be the swing man between both spots.

Hawk, who’s been primarily a split end, has practiced at flanker the last two weeks and played some at both positions against SMU.

First a blocker, then a receiver

Redshirt freshman Adam James showed excellent hands and good speed during spring and preseason practices. During a spring scrimmage, for example, he split two safeties on a 37-yard touchdown catch. During an August scrimmage, he caught a pass and took a hit for a 27-yard gain.

He got quite a bit of work as a slot receiver. But during the first month of the season, James has been limited mostly to playing tight end in tight formations.

“You see Adam a little less in open sets and more in the big sets,” inside receivers coach Lincoln Riley said, “but as he matures and grows, expect to see him in a few more of the open sets as well.”

James’ limited time as a standup slot receiver stems from being Eric Morris’ backup. The “H” receiver, which Morris plays, automatically comes out when Tech uses an “H” running back – in two-back formations or tight sets.

That impacts James.

“(Morris) gets natural rest in big sets,” Riley said, “so he’s not a guy we have to sit down in open sets.”

James’ ability to play tight end, however, is helping coaches proceed with a plan to redshirt junior Adrian Reese.

Compiled by Don Williams