Joey McGuire says Marquis "Muddy" Waters can be an NFL draft pick if the Texas Tech defensive back reaches his potential in 2022. That was Waters' plan last season: Transfer to Tech, put up impressive stats and game tape and be in an NFL training camp at this very moment. Bijan Robinson spoiled the plan. In last year's Big 12 opener, Waters tried to arm tackle Texas' 220-pound running back and suffered a grade-three tear of a pectoral muscle. He underwent surgery the next week and missed the last nine g ames of the season. Now he's back on the field for the Red Raiders, trying to do as he intended at this time last year. So far, so good. At the end of spring, new defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter called Waters probably the team's most productive player on defense "as far as a guy making explosive plays, intercepting the football, getting sacks, forcing fumbles."Waters, 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, is playing Star, which, depending on circumstances, can be a safety, a nickel cornerback or an outside linebacker. "He's a dynamic football player," DeRuyter said. "He's a heck of a football player. Really excited about his potential in our defense. I told him, I think he's got the ability - if our coaches and I can get it out of him - to be an all-confe rence type of player." For all the time he missed last year, Waters is likely to make up for it this year. Based on what McGuire has seen, the sixth-year senior from Delray Beach, Florida, is going to fit a lot of job descriptions. "He's one that's going to be really interesting," the Tech head coach said, "because depending on the packages we go to, I don't know if you want to take him off the field. I think he can play the boundary safety, the free safety. "He reminds me of the Jalen Pitre kid that Ba ylor had that just got drafted in the second round. Tearing that pec last year hurt him. I think he was one of the guys that was really fixing to have a good year." - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
rSr/2023  SS Marquis Waters, Texas Tech
News Source: Lubbock Avalanche Journal
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