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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 /
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Sep 3, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury looks on before the game with the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury looks on before the game with the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Joseph Wallace

For as long as anyone cares to remember, Texas Tech has been woeful when trying to stop the run.  If that is to change this season, sophomore Joseph Wallace must build on a promising freshman season.

The product of Dallas, Texas’ Skyline High School was one of the top 2016 Texas Tech signees.  He appeared in eight games last year recording ten tackles and a fumble recovery.

His role is expected to be greatly increased in 2017 due to the transfer of starting defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.  That departure leaves Texas Tech with just three defensive tackles on the roster to have accumulated any snaps in a college game.

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At 6-foot-1 and 315 pounds, Wallace has the perfect size to be a blockade in the middle of the line of scrimmage.  He will have to pair with redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Broderick Washington and senior Mychaelon Thomas to improve one of the worst run defenses in college football.

A season ago, Texas Tech ranked 116th in the country by allowing 238.6 yards per game on the ground.  Four different opponents rushed for over 300 yards against Texas Tech.  That included a 341-yard game from Texas’ D’Onta Foreman and a 261-yard performance from Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon. In total, only two Big 12 teams, Kansas and TCU, failed to top 200 yards rushing against Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders also yielded 37 rushing touchdowns on the season including a record-tying eight to Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage.  Ballage and the Sun Devils will be in Lubbock for the rematch in week two of the season.

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If Texas Tech is to prove that its defense is improved this year, a strong showing against Arizona State is critical.  For that to happen, Wallace will have to have a huge hand in that effort.

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