Texas Tech Football Top 25 Players: No. 17
By Robert Jones
We continue our series looking at the most important players projected to suit up for Texas Tech this season. This is not a list of the most talented players, but rather a breakdown of which guys stand to make the most impact either by their presence or absence.
No. 17: linebacker V.J. Fehoko
One name very quietly became synonyms with Texas Tech this year. Quiet, that is, until the little brother, four-star defensive tackle Breiden, committed to the Red Raiders this spring, sparking a hubbub of high fives and #BOOMs. The Fehokos, fromHonolulu, Hawaii, have a special connection to Lubbock, seeing as three of their four sons have played for, currently play for or have committed to play for Texas Tech football.
The oldest, Sam, was a very talented and promising linebacker several years ago before some issues with the Tuberville administration ended poorly. Now, his younger brother V.J., who transferred from Utah to play his senior year at Tech, is set to start at middle linebacker this season. Like the rest of his family, V.J. has a good build and is very athletic, but it may be the intangibles he brings that sets him apart from the rest of the roster.
You don’t need to know much about the Fehokos to know that they love football, and they love playing football at Tech. After the spring game, much like a few years ago when Sam was here, the Fehokos left their mark on Red Raider players and fans with hand-woven coconut headbands and a haka. V.J.’s family bleeds Red and Black through and through, and he’s expected to play a big role on the field and in the locker room for the Red Raiders this fall, the only season he gets in a Texas Tech uniform. It could be a special one.
No. 18: fullback/running back Rodney Hall
No. 19: receiver D.J. Polite-Bray
No. 20: running back DeAndre Washington
No. 21: receiver Dylan Cantrell