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Kingsbury to coach Texas Tech

TEXAS TECH hired one of its own Wednesday, bringing back former Red Raiders quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to become the head coach.

TEXAS TECH hired one of its own Wednesday, bringing back former Red Raiders quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to become the head coach.

Kingsbury was offered the job in the afternoon and Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced the news with a video posted on Twitter not long after.

"Wreck 'em Tech," Kingsbury said in the video, giving the school's Guns Up sign when the camera panned to him.

Kingsbury was the offensive coordinator at Texas A & M, coaching Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, this year and was the first in a string of record-setting quarterbacks for the Red Raiders under former coach Mike Leach.

He has never been a head coach and at 33, he'll be one of the youngest in major college football.

Kingsbury succeeds Tommy Tuberville, who left unexpectedly last week to take the Cincinnati job.

Tuberville was 20-17 in three seasons with the Red Raiders (7-5), who will play Minnesota in the Meineke Car Care Bowl after missing out on a bowl last season.

Noteworthy * 

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron said he will return for his senior season with the Crimson Tide next year.

McCarron leads the nation in passing efficiency headed into the BCS championship game against Notre Dame, and he helped Alabama win the national championship last season.

* As expected, injured South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore announced he was giving up his final season to enter the NFL draft.

Lattimore dislocated his right knee and tore several ligaments in a game against Tennessee in October. He underwent knee surgery and is off crutches. He missed the final six games of last season after having ligament surgery on his left knee.

* Tennessee Tech wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers will bypass his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. He is projected to be a second- or third-round pick.

* Former Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin has been hired as Arkansas State's new coach. Harsin spent the last two seasons with the Longhorns, during which time Texas was 16-9. Harsin said he will not coach the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon State. Texas will turn play-calling duties over to co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite. Harsin replaces Gus Malzahn, who left after one 9-3 season to coach at Auburn.