New role suits Richards This has been no ordinary spring practice for Texas Tech junior Jackson Richards, who’s learning not only another defense but a somewhat new position. Richards, a 4-3 defensive end his first 21/2 years on campus, is a 3-4 defensive end — actually, a defensive tackle when a rusher such as Brandon Jackson or Pete Robertson is on the line of scrimmage.

  This has been no ordinary spring practice for Texas Tech junior Jackson Richards, who’s learning not only another defense but a somewhat new  position. Richards, a 4-3 defensive end his first 21/2 years on campus, is a 3-4 defensive end — actually, a tackle when a rusher such Brandon Jackson or Pete Robertson is on the line of scrimmage. “It’s a big change,” he said after Monday’s workout at Jones AT&T Stadium. “I’m used to just playing outside the (offensive) tackle, really, not as much moving. Now we’re moving everywhere. It’s really fun.

I wasn't sure we were in the right place when our Avalanche-Journal staff pulled up to Grande Communications Stadium in Midland on Saturday afternoon. The air was filled with the tantalizing smells of the kind of smoky BBQ I've come to know and love during my time in West Texas. We're not talking a couple hot dogs being cooked on a mini charcoal grill. This was full-blown tailgating, campers lined up in droves with thousands taking in the game-day atmosphere, complete with bouncing castles and cooperative sunshine.

Washington provides top highlight MIDLAND — DeAndre Washington didn’t show much rust when Texas Tech held its first public scrimmage of the year Saturday. The sophomore running back, who redshirted last season after suffering a major knee injury at the end of his freshman year, took a counter handoff on Tech’s third series of the day, darted to his left and turned on the afterburners en route to a 40-yard touchdown run.