Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech Football: Four Young Players That Must Break Out In 2017

By Matthew Conner

Sep 5, 2015; Lubbock, TX, USA; A general overview of the Jones AT&T Stadium prior to the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Lubbock, TX, USA; A general overview of the Jones AT&T Stadium prior to the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Texas Tech
Oct 22, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders flags fly outside Jones AT&T Stadium before the game with the Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Lonzell Gilmore

Referring to defensive end Lonzell Gilmore as a newcomer might be a bit of a misnomer.  After all, the redshirt sophomore is entering his third season in the Texas Tech football program.

However, 2018 is the first season in which he will be asked to be the leader of the defensive line.  That is quite a bit to expect from a former 2-star recruit.

However, the coaching staff has seen Gilmore flash the ability to be a top-flight defensive end.  Now, it is time for that potential to show up on Saturdays.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is still undersized for a traditional college defensive end.  However, he has put on 40 pounds since arriving on campus and those in the know report that he has maintained the explosiveness that the coaches have always loved. He also has incredibly long arms that could help him win the hand-to-hand battles he will face in the trenches.

Potential is the word that continually surfaces in discussions about Lonzell Gilmore.  Thus far, that potential has not been realized.

He has just six career tackles and only one sack.  Still, he is one of the most experienced defensive ends on the roster.

And rushing the quarterback has been a weakness of the Texas Tech defense for far too long.  The Red Raiders ranked last in the Big 12 with just 14 sacks in 2016 (five behind 9th place Iowa State).

In fact, only one Texas Tech defender (Kris Williams) had more than one sack last season.  Williams was a senior so that means that the Red Raiders have a huge question mark at pass rusher this season.

Rushing the passer is one of the most important jobs a defensive line has.  That task is amplified in the Big 12 which features the nation’s best collection of passing offenses.

If Texas Tech is going to see a marked improvement on defense, someone on David Gibbs’ defensive line must be a consistent threat to get to the quarterback.  There are going to be a number of young players vying to earn that job and Gilmore seems to be the most likely candidate from among that group to breakout in 2017.

Home/Texas Tech Football