Tech fall camp set to kick off, 4-Star WR decision nears (COJ)
The First Pour
On today’s episode of Cup of Joe, Texas Tech football is heating up with fall camp on deck, a local WR is about to make waves with his commitment, Scottie Scheffler stays on fire, and the Heisman dark horse race is already stirring the pot. Plus, a few more bold takes you didn’t know you needed. So pour that coffee strong, take a seat, and let’s get into this week’s hottest brew of COJ.
Morning Motivational
“Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.”
Alex karras
Fall camp approaches for Texas Tech football
With the start of Texas Tech football just a week away, anticipation is steadily building in Lubbock and beyond. Entering what many view as a pivotal chapter in the Joey McGuire era, the 2025 season brings both heightened expectations and unanswered questions for a Red Raider program aiming to take the next step.
The storyline starts at quarterback, where all eyes remain on Behren Morton. After battling through a shoulder injury last season, Morton is expected to lead the offense—but questions about his health and durability linger. If fully recovered, he has the tools to command a high-powered attack built for Big 12 play.
Off the field, much of the offseason has been defined by Texas Tech’s aggressive approach in the transfer portal. Dozens of new faces have been added, and while the talent influx is undeniable, the challenge now shifts to building chemistry and cohesion in time for Week 1. That task falls squarely on the coaching staff, which returns several key assistants while also integrating new voices into the fold.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 landscape has shifted dramatically. With traditional powerhouses gone and parity at an all-time high, the opportunity is there for Tech to make noise—but only if questions surrounding depth, consistency, and leadership are answered quickly.
As fall camp draws closer, one thing is clear: the pieces are in place for Texas Tech to contend. Whether they come together in time will shape not only this season—but the trajectory of the program moving forward.
Local WR Nears Decision: Is Texas Tech the Choice?
A major recruiting decision is set to unfold today as 4-star wide receiver Chase Campbell, a standout from Frenship High School, prepares to announce his college commitment. Campbell, one of the top prospects in West Texas for the 2025 class, has narrowed his final three choices to Texas Tech, Kansas State, and Baylor.
The announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST, and with his blend of size, speed, and production, Campbell’s decision is expected to make an immediate impact on the recruiting landscape—especially within the Big 12.
Texas Tech has made Campbell a top priority throughout the process, hoping to keep the local talent close to home. But both Kansas State and Baylor have also been heavily involved in his recruitment, adding intrigue to the final decision.
Depending on when you’re reading this, Campbell may have already made his choice—either joining a Red Raider class that continues to build momentum, or opting to take his talents elsewhere in the Big 12.
Scottie Scheffler’s dominance rolls on
In a sport where consistency is often the biggest challenge, Scottie Scheffler is making the PGA Tour look routine. With multiple wins in 2024—including The Masters and Players Championship—and a historic stretch of top-10 finishes, Scheffler’s current run is drawing comparisons to something once thought untouchable: peak Tiger Woods.
It’s a lofty comparison, but the numbers don’t lie.
Scheffler has finished inside the top 10 in over 80% of his starts this season. He’s led the PGA Tour in scoring average, strokes gained: tee-to-green, and total strokes gained—all by significant margins. His ability to dominate even without his putter clicking every week speaks to just how dialed in the rest of his game is.
But here’s where the Tiger comparison really hits: control. Much like Woods in the early 2000s, Scheffler isn’t just winning—he’s suffocating leaderboards. His precision off the tee, surgical approach play, and mental composure have separated him from a field full of elite talent. The gap between Scheffler and everyone else feels eerily familiar to when Tiger made Sunday red a formality.
Of course, Tiger’s peak came with a swagger and cultural impact that transcended golf. Woods won seven majors from 2000–2002 and held all four major trophies at once during the famed “Tiger Slam.” Scheffler isn’t there—yet. But in terms of week-to-week dominance, he’s operating on a level the sport hasn’t seen in over two decades.
Is it fair to say Scottie is the new Tiger? No. But is this the most Tiger-like stretch of golf since Tiger himself? Absolutely.
The shocking amount Scottie Scheffler’s caddie earns each year
Similar to referees in other sports, I’ve always wondered how much money they make—and that curiosity has extended to professional golf caddies. I’d never actually taken the time to look into the numbers, but that changed when I stumbled across an article about Ted Scott, Scottie Scheffler’s caddie.
What caught me off guard? Professional caddies often earn 10% of a golfer’s winnings per event. That means the better the golfer performs, the bigger the payday for the caddie.
To put that into perspective: Scottie’s win at the 2025 Open came with a $3.1 million prize. Based on the standard 10% cut, Ted Scott walked away with $310,000 for his weekend’s work. Not bad for someone carrying another person’s clubs and occasionally offering advice on how to play a certain hole. (Yes, I know there’s more to it than that—but still, that’s wild money for a few days on the course.)
Did anyone else know PGA caddies were cashing in like this?
Even the last-place finisher at the U.S. Open reportedly took home over $100,000. By that math, a caddie could still earn around $10,000 for three days’ work—not too shabby. And if you’re lucky enough to loop for someone in their prime? You’re looking at serious, consistent paydays.
Here’s the full article if you’d like to take a look: https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/how-much-winning-caddie-makes-open-championship-2025
Top Heisman dark horse candidates to watch in 2025
I’ve never been all that sold on preseason this or preseason that-especially when it comes to handing out accolades based on hype or assumptions. But every now and then, an article comes along that does a solid job spotlighting players who aren’t in the national conversation yet… but probably should be.
This piece from On3 highlights potential Heisman Trophy dark horse candidates-guys who might not be household names now but could crash the party by December. Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson are just a few names to keep an eye on.
Sure, some of them might be long shots to actually make it to New York, but that’s what makes this conversation fun-trying to predict who might break out when the lights come on.
What about you-got a sleeper pick for the Heisman? Or are you more locked in on team success than chasing individual awards?
Here’s the full article if you want to check it out. https://www.on3.com/news/heisman-trophy-dark-horses-under-the-radar-candidates-for-2025/
That’ll do it for Part One of this week’s Cup of Joe. From fall camp buzz to dark horse Heisman chatter and everything in between, there’s no shortage of storylines heating up. But we’re just getting started—Part Two is on deck, and it’s brewing with even more takes, updates, and Red Raider flavor. So keep that coffee warm and stay tuned… you won’t want to miss what’s coming next.
