Texas Tech's Quinten Joyner sidelined for 2025 season with ACL tear
- Quinten Joyner suffered a torn ACL during a scrimmage, which will keep him out for the entire 2025 season.
- The Texas Tech running back was expected to play a central role after transferring from USC.
- This injury poses a challenge for the Red Raiders as they need to rely on other running backs to fill the void.
In a significant setback for the Texas Tech football team, Quinten Joyner, a promising sophomore running back who transferred from USC, suffered a devastating knee injury. The injury occurred during a scrimmage held on a Saturday, resulting in a torn ACL that will keep him off the field for the entire 2025 season. Joyner was expected to take on a major role in the Red Raiders' backfield after a successful previous season at USC, where he rushed for 478 yards and scored four total touchdowns. Joyner had transitioned to Texas Tech in search of increased playing time and a chance to perform in front of family in his home state. He had shown great potential during the spring and summer practices, impressing coaches with his work ethic and adaptability. Head coach Joey McGuire expressed his disappointment regarding Joyner's injury, highlighting the player’s hard work and the unfortunate timing of the injury right before the season. The Red Raiders, now ranked No. 23 in the AP preseason poll, face an immediate need to adjust their strategy and lineup. With Joyner out, the team will rely on sophomore running backs J'Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey, who have both demonstrated their capabilities in the previous season. Together, they contributed significantly to the team's rushing game with a combined total of 461 yards on 81 carries. McGuire emphasized the team's depth at the running back position, hoping that the other players can fill the gap left by Joyner. The absence of Joyner, who was projected to carry a significant portion of the offensive workload, will require Texas Tech to adopt a next-man-up mentality as they prepare for their upcoming games. The team is set to start their 2025 season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on August 30, and it remains to be seen how this key injury will impact their performance and strategies moving forward. As they aim to improve on last season's 8-5 record, the Red Raiders will need all players to step up in a competitive conference environment, further tightening their focus in preparation for the challenges ahead.