Texas Tech sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes II announced Wednesday that he will not rejoin the Red Raider baseball team for the 2016 season. Instead, Mahomes will focus primarily on football heading into spring practices.
“I am extremely grateful for the great opportunity that Coach Tadlock and his staff provided me,” Mahomes said. “Not many college athletes have the privilege to play multiple sports at this level, so I’d like to thank Coach Tadlock, his staff as well as my teammates on the baseball team for allowing me that opportunity.
“Moving forward, after speaking with my family following the bowl game, I feel it is in my best interest to concentrate solely on football and academics this spring. I know great things await the baseball program this season and I will be rooting them on every chance I get.”
Mahomes appeared in three baseball games as a freshman. He made two plate appearances as a pinch hitter and came on out of the bullpen once as a relief pitcher.
In football, Mahomes became just the 13th quarterback in FBS history to record 5,000 yards of total offense this past season as he threw for 4,653 yards and rushed for 456 yards on the ground. The successful campaign earned the sophomore All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades by the conference coaches.
Mahomes also became the youngest player in NCAA history time to reach 4,000 passing yards, rush for at least 450 yards, throw 30 or more touchdown passes and run for 10 touchdowns in a season. He is one of just five quarterbacks all-time to accomplish that feat.
“We appreciate everything Patrick has done for Texas Tech Athletics and we want, first and foremost, what is best for him,” Texas Tech baseball coach Tim Tadlock said. “When you have been a two-or-three sport guy your whole life, it is not easy to give one up. We will do everything possible to continue to help him develop the best we can.”
The Texas Tech baseball program opens its season on Feb. 19 with the start of a four-game series against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
(Press Release Provided by Texas Tech Athletics Department)
