Lubbock, Texas ? The shadow from which Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons needed to step appeared large.

At least it did two games ago.

Now, though, the fifth-year senior has shown he can draw his own spotlight after three seasons as record-setting quarterback Kliff Kingsbury’s understudy. In the Red Raiders’ first two games, Symons has thrown for 715 yards and eight touchdowns and leads the Big 12 Conference in passing.

And he’s shown some things Kingsbury didn’t. Symons is throwing downfield more rather than putting up short passes in the flat and he isn’t afraid to carry the ball if the need arises.

“You’ve got to when you’ve got 300-pounders coming after you,” Symons said.

One of Tech’s receivers said Symons’ personality lends itself to that dimension.

“Off and on the field, he brings that extra intensity,” Carlos Francis said. “There’s a fire in his belly. It’s funny to see because Kliff is so low-key. B.J.’s more physical. He knows he has just one chance with this (year) and he’s going to go all out.”

Many downgraded Tech this season because of Kingsbury’s departure. Tech coach Mike Leach and Symons have said they aren’t concerned about what others say.

“Everybody’s talking about, ‘Is there going to be a letdown?'” Symons said. “And I’ve said all along our mindset was that there wasn’t going to be a letdown. Our mindset was that we’re going to actually be better. We’re on our way to proving that.”

Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons (2) tosses a pass in the first quarter against New Mexico. Symons threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in Texas Tech's 42-28 win Saturday in Lubbock, Texas.

Tech has wracked up 100 points in wins over SMU (58-10) and New Mexico (42-28). The Red Raiders have a bye week this week before traveling Sept. 20 to North Carolina State.

Does Symons think he can continue to get 300 yards or more a game?

“I’m the kind of guy, I expect 400 yards every game,” Symons said. “But the biggest stat is just winning. Whether I throw for 100 yards or 500 yards, if we win that’s our main goal as a team.”

While Kingsbury built huge numbers — finishing with numerous NCAA records, including career marks in completions (1,231) and attempts (1,883) — many said his success was due to Leach’s pass-happy offensive system. Some are now explaining Symons’ numbers the same way.

Not Leach, though. At the season’s outset, Leach said Symons’ talents were comparable to Kingsbury, and to two other high-profile quarterbacks — Tim Couch at Kentucky and Josh Heupel at Oklahoma — he worked with before coming to Tech.

“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “It’s like when Kliff did all the stuff he did last year, they said, ‘Well, he doesn’t deserve any of the hardware or awards because he’s a system quarterback.’ Then after Kliff left, they said, ‘Texas Tech can’t win any games without him.’

“So I think that all that rhetoric is just self-serving stuff or whatever people want to perpetuate of their own.”