Editor’s Note: The Avalanche-Journal is counting down the best all-time Texas Tech players at each position as the Red Raiders head toward their 1,000th game on Sept. 5 against Sam Houston State.
PUNTER
MAURY BUFORD
The reason why: He delivered high quality over four years, though he got more work than desired on teams that went 16-25-3 from 1978-81. Buford’s 44.1-yard average in 1978 made him the first freshman in 35 years to lead the nation, and he averaged 42.1, 41.9 and 44.8 in his remaining seasons.
The Mount Pleasant product was named the second-team punter on the Southwest Conference all-decade team of the 1970s, and in 1980 he had eight punts killed inside the 10-yard line.