BY DON WILLIAMS l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Down on Hawk

Lately, as soon as one Texas Tech split end emerges from the doghouse, another moves in. First, it was Edward Britton who had the coaches’ disfavor. Now it’s Rashad Hawk.

“Rashad’s kind of in my doghouse right now,” wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons said after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s got to come out and play at a consistent level and continue to play hard and play physical.”

Hawk was listed first team to start the beginning of spring, but on Wednesday he didn’t get a snap in the 11-on-11 team period, which ran almost 50 plays. Neither did flanker Eric Ward, and inside receiver Adam James got only one.

“It’s just a competitive situation,” head coach Mike Leach said. “We’re looking at all of them, and we’ve got a variety of (passing drills) going on. But at each position, whoever the two are that we feel like are on top, those are the guys we’re repping.”

On Wednesday, that was Britton and Adrian Reese at split end, Detron Lewis and Austin Zouzalik at one inside receiver, Tramain Swindall and Cornelius Douglas at the other, and Alex Torres and Jacoby Franks at flanker.

As for Ward, Simmons said the first-semester freshman needs time to learn flanker and understand all the checks and calls.

“As you progress in spring, things speed up and happen quick,” Simmons said. “So that was the whole reason there.”

Grad assistants change

Chris Hudler, a graduate assistant coach the last two years, went through his last Tech practice Wednesday. Hudler plans to move back home to Mesquite on Friday and pursue a full-time coaching job at the high-school level. He’s pursuing leads in his hometown and in Westlake, La., where his brother coaches.

“I had to do what’s best for my family,” said Hudler, who is married with a 9-month-old son. “It’s going to be sad. I’ve been here for seven years, so it’s going to be different, but sometimes you need a change of scenery.”

Hudler, a former Tech defensive tackle, will be replaced by Duane Price, who was a two-sport Tech athlete – football defensive back, baseball outfielder – from 1994-97. Price officially started April 1, and Hudler has helped him in the transition.

“Chris Hudler’s one of the smartest young coaches I’ve dealt with,” Tech coach Mike Leach said. “He’s moving on to beginning a full-time career in coaching. Duane Price coached in high school, has been a full-time coach for a while. He’s getting his master’s and excited about the opportunity to take a look at college (coaching). We’re excited to have him.”

QB looks at Tech

Cameron Ely, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound quarterback formerly of Harvard, was at practice and watched the team period on the sideline next to Mike Leach. Ely was on an unofficial visit. If he were to join the program, it would be as a walk-on. He is from Santa Barbara, Calif.

Quarterbacks’ day

Quarterback Taylor Potts went 10 for 15 during the 11-on-11 team period, but threw interceptions to defensive lineman Ra’Jon Henley and linebacker Bront Bird.

Potts managed to clearly draw defensive linemen offside three times in a span of seven snaps.

The QBs were working on hard counts, and Potts got end Brandon Sesay to jump, then ends Daniel Howard and Sandy Riley on the same play, and finally tackle Victor Hunter.

“Offensively, we didn’t jump, so I thought that part was good,” coach Mike Leach said. “Of course, defensively we did. I didn’t think that was so good. The thing is, this is the first day we’ve worked on it, so I’m sure we’ll improve.”

Steven Sheffield went 7 for 8 in team, and Seth Doege went 6 for 9. Potts continues to get double the snaps of his backups: In team, he got 24 plays, the backups 11 apiece.

In brief

Highlights from the team period: Second-team SLB Tyrone Sonier broke up two Taylor Potts passes in a span of three plays. … DT Richard Jones sniffed out a tunnel screen and stopped IR Detron Lewis for a 4-yard loss. Three plays later, Jones got a touch sack on QB Steven Sheffield. … DT Britton Barbee and DE Ryan Haliburton also had touch sacks. It was the second workout in a row for Haliburton to get one. “Haliburton’s coming on, starting in the scrimmage (Monday),” defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “I thought the first five practices, he was just happy to be a Red Raider. The sixth practice, something turned on and he started to play better.” … FL Alex Torres, a transfer from Air Force, followed up his two-TD scrimmage by catching a deep ball. … NT Victor Hunter threw RB Harrison Jeffers for a 4-yard loss.

Compiled by Don Williams