BY DON WILLIAMS

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

The new No. 5 for the Texas Tech football team is a running back who never carries the football. He did catch a touchdown pass last year, ran back three short kickoffs that came his way and does some of the grunt work that often goes unnoticed.

That, and he has a sense of humor.

Many players might not want the attention that comes with putting on Mike Crabtree’s old uniform number. Ryan Hale begged for it. Actually, the Red Raiders’ blocking back pestered equipment managers Zane Perry and Steve Pesek enough during the offseason that they finally gave in.

“It’s all in good fun,’’ said Hale, a 6-foot-1, 227-pound senior-to-be from Baytown Lee. “And I was tired of living in Clay McGuire’s shadow. So I stepped into a bigger one.’’

Hale traded No. 47 to get No. 5. McGuire is the Tech running backs coach who wore 47 during his Tech playing career, from 2001 to 2004. Hale spent his first three years on campus as a backup linebacker and special-teams player before moving over to play blocking back last season.

The new No. 5 isn’t quite as sleek as the old one, the one who was a two-time unanimous All-American and two-time winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver. Hale did swing out of the backfield once last season and catch a 4-yard touchdown pass.

“Man, that No. 5 is amazing. You better watch him,’’ Tech quarterback Taylor Potts said with deadpan humor after the team’s first spring practice Wednesday.

The Red Raiders are scheduled to practice again at 3:30 p.m. today.

Why does a guy such as Hale seek a number so prominent?

“It started out as a joke,’’ he said. “We keep a loose atmosphere around here. I asked the equipment managers if I could do it. It took a lot of bribing Zane and Steve back in the back. I guess it came true, and I’m stuck with it. I can’t turn back now. I’m too far into it.’’

Hale actually started his career as a No. 50. It’s hard to have a 50 in your past and make anyone forget Tech’s famous 5.

“It’ll be too hard to do that,’’ he said. “Crabtree’s going to go down as one of the best ever. I’m just doing it for fun. I mean, they do have all these (No. 5 replica) jerseys selling at stores, so somebody’s got to be wearing No. 5.’’