Texas Tech’s Ironman: Behren Morton Powers Red Raiders to Historic Season Through Pain, Perseverance, and Pure West Texas Grit
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - In West Texas, there’s a rhythm to life. The land is flat, the wind never stops blowing, and the pump jacks - those mechanical workhorses of the oilfields - keep grinding, day and night.
No matter the weather, no matter the wear. They just keep going.
That’s the exact image Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had in mind when asked about his quarterback, Behren Morton.
“That’s what I think of when you say West Texas,” Rodriguez said. “What I think of when you say Behren Morton.”
And really, that’s the story of Texas Tech’s 2025 season in a nutshell. Not splashy NIL deals.
Not a transfer portal overhaul. Not even a flashy offensive scheme.
Just a gritty, homegrown senior quarterback who refused to stop - even when his body begged him to.
This year, Morton played with a hairline fracture in his right leg. Let’s call it what it is: a broken leg.
And that’s not even the full story. For the two seasons before that, he played through a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder - a complete ligament tear that would’ve shut down most quarterbacks for the year, let alone two.
Three years. Three major injuries. Zero quit.
Born and raised in Lubbock, Morton is the embodiment of the region - tough, relentless, and loyal to the core. He’s not wired to sit out. Not for pain, not for injury, not for anything.
“It’s just not how I was raised,” Morton said. “I’m going to do everything possible to get on that field.”
And he did. Again and again. Even when every step hurt, even when every throw reminded him of what was broken.
But here’s what makes this season remarkable: despite the injury, despite missing practice reps, despite the boot he’s worn around campus for months, Morton put together the best year of his career. He completed 67 percent of his passes, tossed 22 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions, and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt - all personal bests. And he did it while playing through pain that would sideline most.
“He’s out there in a boot all week, and then Saturday rolls around and he’s lighting it up,” said backup quarterback Mitch Griffis. “I don’t know how he did it. It’s unbelievable.”
Morton didn’t just play. He led.
He became the heartbeat of a team that made history - Texas Tech’s first-ever Big 12 championship, first 12-win season, and first trip to the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders will face Oregon in the Orange Bowl quarterfinal, and you better believe Morton will be under center.
He’s not just along for the ride. He’s driving the bus.
And when Texas Tech lost its only game of the season - a surprising stumble at Arizona State - it wasn’t because the offense sputtered or the defense collapsed. It was because Morton didn’t play. Not because he didn’t want to, but because head coach Joey McGuire made the call.
“He’ll fight you, now,” McGuire said. “He wants on that field.”
But McGuire had to draw the line. If Morton couldn’t protect himself, he wasn’t going to play. It was the only time the Red Raiders didn’t win by at least 22 points all season.
That’s how important Morton is to this team. In an era where rosters are rebuilt annually through the transfer portal and big-money donors shape depth charts, Texas Tech’s most indispensable player is a local kid who stayed loyal, stayed tough, and never stopped working.
He could’ve left in 2022 when McGuire took over - a new coach who hadn’t recruited him. But Morton stayed.
Because leaving Lubbock? That was never on the table.
“Never even thought about it,” he said. “That would be like walking away from family.”
The night before the Big 12 title game, Morton’s father - longtime Texas high school coaching legend James Morton - called McGuire with two requests. He wanted a Big 12 championship. And he wanted a picture of his son walking off the field with McGuire.
“We walked off together, guns high,” McGuire said.
And they’re not done yet. Not Morton. Not this team.
Because in West Texas, the pump jacks never stop. Neither does Behren Morton.