Former Texas Tech QB announces transfer portal decision

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax01/16/22

BarkleyTruax

Former Texas Tech quarterback Henry Colombi has announced his intentions to transfer to Marshall, he announced on Twitter Sunday afternoon.

Colombi, who led the Red Raiders in passing yards for the last two seasons, announced his decision to transfer from Texas Tech just four days ago and received his offer from Marshall two days later, according to his Twitter.

“Red Raider Nation,” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a historic program these last two years. I would like to thank Coach Wells and Kirby Hocutt for allowing me to live out my childhood dreams of playing Big 12 football. I would also like to thank my teammates for welcoming me in with open arms and allowing me to go to battle with them every Saturday. I have made memories here that I will cherish for a lifetime.”

Colombi has passed for 2,356 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two seasons in Corpus Cristi while also running for 169 yards and three touchdowns. He transferred to Texas Tech after spending his first two collegiate seasons as a backup at Utah State.

Last season, Colombi was replaced by backup Donovan Smith after he suffered an injury in a loss to Oklahoma. Smith would go on to start the season’s final four games and Colombi did not get see the field again as the season came to a close.

The Red Raiders split their four games with Colombi on the bench, but their two losses were against then-top 10 opponents in Oklahoma State and Baylor, respectively. The Baylor game saw Texas Tech miss a game-tying field goal as regulation expired that sent Baylor to the Big 12 Championship game.

They’d finish the season with a dominant 34-7 win over Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl, likely cementing Smith as the start moving forward into next season.

Marshall finished 2021 with a 7-6 record as well after losing in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl to the Louisiana Raging Cajuns.

The Thundering Herd’s quarterback for 2021, Grant Wells, announced his intentions to transfer to Virginia Tech less than a month after the bowl loss. The freshman threw for 3,532 yards (15th nationally), 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Colombi isn’t going into a sure-fire starting job heading into next season, but he’s sure to be a favorite as Spring training kicks into gear through the next few months.