Texas Tech Football: Three Defensive Players Ready To Break Out In 2018

The Texas Tech football team returns ten of eleven starters from last year’s defense which saw significant overall improvement.  Thus, expectations are high for the 2018 defense and here are three players that could be break out players on that side of the ball.

This summer, an unfamiliar refrain has emerged from among the Texas Tech football faithful.  For the first time in almost two decades, Red Raider fans are far more confident in Tech’s defense than in any other aspect of the team.

And it is easy to see why fans have faith in defensive coordinator David Gibbs and his defensive unit.  After finishing in the bottom two in the nation in total defense in both 2015 and 2016, Gibbs saw his defense take a significant step forward in his third year in Lubbock.

The 2017 defense jumped from No. 128 overall (last in the country) in 2016 to No. 96 in just one year.  Tech saw a huge improvement in a number of defensive categories for the first time in recent memory.

Last season, Tech gave up 120 fewer total yards per game (434), 84.3 fewer rush yards per game (154.3), 11.7 fewer points per game (31.8) and 36 fewer yards passing per game 279.8.  But the most important improvement came in the category of turnovers forced.

In 2017, the Red Raiders forced 29 total turnovers to rank tied with two other teams for sixth-most in the nation.  That was an increase of 16 total takeaways from the previous season as Gibbs’ philosophy of forcing turnovers above all else finally came to fruition and paid dividends.

Now, entering the 2018 season, Gibbs has the luxury of returning ten of eleven starters from last season (losing only DT Mych Thomas).  But while there are plenty of familiar faces remaining on the Red Raider defense, there is always room for new stars to emerge.  Here are three defensive players that are poised to have breakout seasons this fall.