Chuck Carlton

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Before Taylor Potts can concentrate on challenging passing records or beating Texas next September, he must become Texas Tech's new No. 1 quarterback.

For Potts, it's about living in the moment. That means preparing for Saturday's spring game and cementing his hold on one of college football's glamour positions as the replacement for Graham Harrell.

Becoming the starter at Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era has been the quarterback equivalent of getting a golden ticket from Willy Wonka.

It's been plug-and-play, huge numbers on command. Some quarterbacks have been better than others. All have been very good. Since 2002, no Tech starting quarterback has thrown for fewer than 4,200 yards.

"It's unwritten and unsaid but to be a quarterback at Texas Tech, it's expected," former Red Raiders quarterback Sonny Cumbie said.

People had known about Potts' arm strength dating to his high school days in Abilene. Spring practice has been about fine-tuning his game and his mindset.

Texas Tech Athletics

Taylor Potts has completed 55-of-85 passes for 669 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in limited playing time.

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The three interceptions in one dreadful April 10 scrimmage became mental history within 24 hours.

"I watched the film and I just forgot about it, to be honest with you," Potts said. "I knew my eyes weren't in the right spots that day. I wasn't going to my reads. That wasn't me out there playing."

He has since rebounded, making the most of a great opportunity.

Potts has not dwelled on the likelihood that his third game as a starter will be in a charged atmosphere at Royal-Memorial Stadium before a national TV audience Sept. 19.

"I haven't really thought about it that much because it's not here yet," Potts said. "Right now, I'm thinking about the spring, how I get better, how I can prepare for the season, how I can lead this team."

After three years behind Harrell, Potts understands patience.

Barring an unexpected meltdown, he'll leave spring practice the way he entered it, on top of the depth chart. Leach acknowledged as spring practice began that the battle was for the backup spot.

Cumbie would not be surprised if Potts finishes among the nation's leaders, even though he's thrown just 85 career passes.

"He can make some impressive throws because of his arm," Cumbie said. "The quicker he can pick up everything on the field, the better he'll be. He has lots of promise, lots of ability. It's just a matter of seeing it live."

Because of his arm and his circumstances, Potts has drawn comparisons to former Tech quarterback B.J. Symons.

For three seasons, Symons watched Kliff Kingsbury. Then, in one season, Symons turned a great arm into a phenomenal season, with 5,833 yards and 52 touchdown passes.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill sees parallels between Symons and Potts. McNeill has learned not to be surprised by the next quarterback in Leach's assembly line.

"With Mike, the first quarterback here was successful and you say maybe that was luck," McNeill said. "After the second, you might say that's luck, too.

"After five in a row, I think Mike knows what he's doing with quarterbacks. Taylor falls into the same category."

School: Texas Tech

Position: Quarterback

Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 215

Year: Junior

High school: Abilene

Notable: Has completed 55-of-85 passes for 669 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in limited playing time. ... Gifted with a strong arm. ... Was a contestant on the ESPNU reality series "Summer House." ... Ranked No. 13 nationally on the list of pro-style high school quarterbacks by Rivals.com. ... In his final two years of high school at Abilene, he threw for 6,052 yards and 53 touchdowns while completing 66 percent of his passes. ... Also recruited by Michigan, Baylor, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M. ... Likes to hunt and fish in his spare time.