Texas Tech's J'Koby Williams Leads Versatile Offense Into Stillwater 'Slugfest'

Texas Tech running back J'Koby Williams didn't touch the ball on the Red Raiders' first two possessions in their high-scoring win over West Virginia last weekend.

On his first handoff, he wasted no time making his presence felt by surging up the middle for a 75-yard touchdown, one of his several big gains on the ground this season.

Williams has been Texas Tech's most explosive and consistent offensive weapon this season, even as dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos has sparked two promising wins in a row since taking over as the starter.

As he nears 1,000 rushing yards on the season, Williams has built confidence in his new pairing with Castellanos.

"We're building chemistry throughout practice as he's been here," Williams said this week. "And we've gotten better - just gotta keep trusting each other."

Both players have surpassed 100 yards rushing in Tech's last two wins. The Red Raiders remain in control of their destiny going into this weekend's night game at Oklahoma State.

Texas Tech will look to continue developing its versatility against a Cowboys defense that ranks on the bottom half of total defense this season.

"That opens up a lot [of things] for us," Williams said about the new-look rushing attack. Tech boasts the fourth-best rushing attack in the Big 12 after posting 328 and 276 yards on the ground over the last two games, respectively.

"They gotta focus on us (running backs) and they gotta focus on Tommy," Williams said of how opponents matchup with the Red Raiders. "So, with him being back there with us, it's just going to keep getting better and better."

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That progress is only once Texas Tech's running back room returns to full strength. The team is likely to be without two of the top three on the depth chart as Cam Dickey and Quinten Joyner are both on the mend with ankle injuries. Joyner has already been ruled out while Dickey, who rushed just three times against the Mountineers, is designated as "questionable."

The Red Raiders will also be down offensive threats in receivers Coy Eakin (hand) and Jalen Jones (hip).

Williams has played in each game this season, but has previously dealt with his own ankle injuries. With a smile, he's dismissed any concerns about his health going into the matchup with the Cowboys.

"I feel great," he said.

"I don't really feel like I ever got it behind me," Williams added about his recovery, "I just didn't look back. I just kept going, and I'm gonna keep going."

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Williams doesn't have a set number of touches he'd prefer in a game. Instead, he's worried more about how he can impact the offense when he does get the ball. Case in point: the 99-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown he had last year against Oklahoma State in Lubbock.

But when it comes to the other team going blow for blow with the Red Raiders?

"That's a good thing for us," Williams said about high-scoring shootouts, such as the 53-48 win over West Virginia last time out.

Oklahoma State commands the conference's top scoring offense at over 40 points per game behind star quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Tech coach Joey McGuire said he's expecting another "slugfest".

"We get to go prove that we're a good offense," Williams said. "We're gonna go do that."