For the last three years, there has been a constant voice reiterating that the Texas Tech Football program is on its way to prominence. The voice was adamant about how close the team was to being in the conference championship picture. It was a big-time advocate during the recruiting season.

Who was that voice? Breiden Fehoko.

That voice is no longer with the program. No matter the circumstance, your biggest player advocate suddenly bails on the program with a year left to play? As much as Fehoko will be missed on the field, he leaves a greater void in the locker room.

Fehoko was constantly talked about as being a leader on defense. Maybe the pressure finally got to him. He didn't want his name to be defined by the worst defense in the nation. For his NFL resume, it's probably smart to leave, red-shirt somewhere else, and then play a fifth year with a good defense.

I understand attrition happens in programs across the country, but for the Texas Tech Football program it seems to be a bigger problem.

The Fehoko news was followed on the weekend by news of two coaches leaving the program.

DeShaun Foster, the running backs coach, and Lee Hays, offensive line coach, are both now on their way out.

Foster was in his first season as the Texas Tech running back coach. He's accepted a job at UCLA, his alma mater.

Hays left the program, and Texas Tech Athletics did not state a reason why he won't be returning.

The timing is weird for Hays to be leaving at this point in the year. Generally, staff changes happen in December for teams that don't make bowl games.

We're just two weeks away from national signing day, and even though there are already 13 recruits enrolled and on campus, Hays was probably out on the recruiting trail. At least he would have been, if he hadn't been fired. I mean released. Or not returning.

Hays has already been replaced by Brandon Jones, who played at Texas Tech in 2006 and has been in the coaching game ever since. It may be that Lee Hays was the best available coach until Jones became available after Cal fired Sonny Dykes.

That's not fact, but it seems to be likely given the reputation of Hays being a good coach and there being no warning or explanation for his departure. Hays was the second-to-last remaining coach hired by Kingsbury after he got the head coaching job in Lubbock in 2013. The last remaining hero is Eric Morris.

Speaking of the remaining coaching staff, there is technically no defensive coordinator.

David Gibbs, the current/former DC, is not under contract, as redraiders.com said on January 7th. Nothing has changed. He's in Lubbock working. He's also on the recruiting trail recruiting. There hasn't been any contract signed, though.

There could be an agreement. The Red Raider football program is shrouded in secrecy, so who really knows. Maybe Gibbs is waiting on an NFL job. He's been there before. In fact, Gibbs has almost 10 years of experience as an NFL defensive backs coach.

That leaves one open position on the staff: The running backs coach. I speculate that this position will be filled before spring practice.

It's all speculation.

That's all it ever is with Kliff Kingsbury.

Speculation.

Texas Tech 2016 Football Highlights

 

More From Talk 103.9 & 1340