Report: Texas Tech QB McLane Carter will start over Nic Shimonek vs. Texas

Despite a prolific season throwing the football, standout Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Nic Shimonek won’t start on Friday against the Texas Longhorns, giving way instead to sophomore McLane Carter, according to a report from Red Raider Sports.

The outlet does expect that the experience senior transfer will receiving playing time.

The decision could impact the game plan for the Longhorns defense, as coordinator Todd Orlando assuredly spent the short week preparing his unit to go against Shimonek, a pocket passer who ranks No. 13 nationally in passer rating.

A big left hander from Gilmer who spent last season at Tyler Junior College, Carter is more mobile than Shimonek and has similar size at 6’3 and 220 pounds. This season, he’s completed 7-of-9 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in limited action.

After Shimonek struggled against the TCU defense last week, it appears that head coach Kliff Kingsbury may be looking towards the future with this decision. However, with his job hanging in the balance and bowl eligibility on the line, it’s not clear whether Kingsbury will be able to remain at his alma mater with anything less than a win today.

Perhaps he simply feels that Carter gives him a better chance to beat Texas than the more experienced Shimonek.