Kliff Kingsbury Talks About the Red Raiders Quarterback Situation After Transfer of Baker Mayfield

Texas Tech Football head coach Kliff Kingsbury met with the media on Friday to discuss the latest going on with his team.

The first issue discussed was the transfer of freshman walk-on quarterback Baker Mayfield.  Mayfield left the Red Raider program earlier this week as he was named Big 12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.

Coach Kingsbury had this to say when The FAN's Rob Snyder asked about how this situation came to be, "We had a good talk and he didn't give me the specifics as to why he was leaving, but he definitely emphasized that he was ready to move on."

The news came as a shock to most of the Red Raider faithful and even a bit of a shock to coach Kingsbury.  When asked if he saw this transfer coming Kingsbury abruptly responded, "No, I did not see this coming."  He also wished Mayfield well as he moves on to another school.

With Mayfield being a walk-on for his freshman year, Kingsbury was asked if a scholarship was in the cards for Mayfield if he would stayed with Texas Tech.  Kingsbury quickly stated that he had planned to find a scholarship for Mayfield after this season.

That being said, the reps before the Holiday Bowl will now be split between freshman Davis Webb and sophomore Michael Brewer. Kingsbury said that no starting quarterback would be publicly named before playing Arizona State.

The other item brought up at Friday's media availability was the possible departure of co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie.  Kingsbury said he had not heard anything from Cumbie concerning a possible departure, but when asked if he was surprised that Cumbie might be leaving he said, "No.  I think it's a credit to what he's done here and I think if he does take that job people should be proud that he's coveted in that manor." Cumbie is currently out recruiting and not in Lubbock.

Kingsbury also stated that they have had talks about what their career goals are and so it seems that this departure was inevitable to some degree.  TCU could be where Cumbie lands if he does leave Texas Tech.

Texas Tech plays Arizona State December 30 at the National University Holiday Bowl in San Diego.