5 best Big 12 offensive players against WVU

Nic Shimonek

Even though he wasn’t the starting quarterback a year ago, Nic Shimonek saw some quality time in the nation’s top offense.

Last year, the Red Raiders put up 564.5 yards per game with 463 of those coming through the air. Patrick Mahomes made a name for himself this past season and went all the way to tenth overall in the NFL Draft being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs.

It will be hard to match Mahomes’ production from last year. The Red Raiders probably won’t match it. They may actually exceed it.

Next: 5 best Big 12 defensive players

According to Matt Conner of Arrowhead Addict, Mahomes’ replacement at Texas Tech, Nic Shimonek, may just be the best quarterback ever. Shimonek is a Texas native who first played at Iowa right out of high school.

He transferred back two years ago and has learned the system under Kingsbury. There’s no doubt that the Red Raiders are a pass-first team, so Shimonek has fit right in with his strong arm.

He fits in with his teammates, too. The Red Raiders love him. They love him maybe even more than they love Mahomes. In a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal story, sports writer Nicholas Talbot played up the new starting quarterback’s relationship with his teammates with quotes from top wide receiver Keke Coutee.

"“It is not different at all,” Red Raider wide out Keke Coutee said. “Nic went in when Pat went down and did great and with him coming in now it is going to be great as well.”"

Coutee even compared Shimonek to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Let’s see if he can become a Mahomes clone first before a Super Bowl winning QB. What won’t be a surprise is if Shimonek keeps Texas Tech among the best offenses in the country.

Last year against West Virginia, Shimonek appeared in back up duty and went 4 of 6 passing for 40 yards and a touchdown as the Mountaineers beat the Red Raiders, 48-17.