The Top 50 Red Raiders of All-Time: No. 39 – 35

No. 38 — Kerry Hyder (DT 2009 – 2013):

Oct 12, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive lineman Kerry Hyder (91) in the second half in the game with the Iowa State Cyclones at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest over-achievers in program history, Kerry Hyder left Lubbock as one of the most respected players to take the field for the Red Raiders. Though undersized for a defensive tackle at only 290-pounds, Hyder was named a 2012 and 2013 All-Big 12 selection by multiple media outlets.

Hyder arrived on campus as an unheralded freshman from Austin, Texas, and after red-shirting his true freshman season, Hyder became a mainstay on the Texas Tech defensive line.

No. 91 never gave up on a play, which often put him in the perfect place to make critical plays as in the clip below.

Hyder developed into a highly skilled player who could dominate opposing offensive lineman, as he does on this play from the same gave versus Iowa State. Watch how Hyder dismisses the lineman with ease on his way to the quarterback.

Hyder was signed as an undrafted free-agent with the New York Jets after the 2014 NFL Draft, and spent the year on the team’s practice squad. Despite playing for three different head coaches (Leach ’09, Tuberville ’10 – ’12, Kingsbury ’13) and five different defensive coordinators, Hyder showed as much improvement during his career as any player in recent memory thus earning him a spot on the list of the 50 greatest Red Raiders of all-time.