Texas Tech Football: Position Groups That Will Be Better In 2018

Defensive Line

While virtually every Texas Tech football fan was pleased with the program’s significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball in 2017, there is still plenty of room for improvement.  The truth is that the 2017 defensive line was merely an average unit in most respects but to defense-starved Red Raider fans, a mediocre defensive line was a gift from God.

A look at the numbers reveals just how much the defensive line could stand to improve this fall.  Last year, Tech ranked just 111th in the nation with 18 total sacks (with 15 coming from the D-line) and 62nd in the nation in rushing yards per game allowed (161.6).

Again, those numbers were an encouraging step in the right direction after the pathetic defensive showings of David Gibbs’ first two defenses in Lubbock but the 2018 defensive line must be better. And given the fact that the team is replacing just one starter while adding some fantastic talent to the 2-deep rotation is reason to believe another improvement is in store.

The leader of the defensive line is sophomore Eli Howard.  The former transfer from UNT was excellent as a redshirt freshman last year leading the team with 5.5 sacks.  Another year in the weight room and in the film room learning Gibbs’ system will do wonders for the former two-star recruit from San Angelo.  Given Howard’s non-stop motor and his fantastic work-ethic, there is reason to believe he could come close to being a double-digit sack guy this fall.

Meanwhile, a pair of veteran defensive ends are primed to make huge strides after getting their conditioning dialed in.  Junior defensive end Lonzell Gilmore, who has struggled throughout his career to add weight to his lanky frame, is now up to 285 pounds and is fully recovered from knee and shoulder surgeries that kept him out of spring ball.

"“He’s gained a ton of weight during this rehab, which is good. We asked him to,” Kingsbury said in May.  “He’s like 280, 285. We’re excited about him. He’s got to be healthy, but he looks great.”"

Gilmore is set to back-up Howard at rush end but he could be a true pass-rush specialist this fall where his athleticism and incredible wing-span could finally pay dividends.  While Gilmore has worked to add weight, another defensive end has done the opposite this offseason.

Senior defensive end Kolin Hill is expecting a big year after dropping 20 pounds.  Hill started nine games last year and was tied for the lead among defensive linemen with 44 tackles but he was not a factor in getting to the quarterback registering just two sacks.

Hill and senior end/linebacker hybrid Tony Jones (4.0 sacks last year) need to provide pressure opposite Howard and Gilmore this year to make life far less comfortable for opposing quarterbacks.

And while these familiar names are looking to step up their performance, there is a nice crop of newcomers on campus ready to bolster the D-line.

Senior defensive tackle Preston Gordon, a grad transfer from Rice, had 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack last year and should be a great rotation piece on the interior.  On the other end of the spectrum is redshirt freshman Nelson Mbanasor, who at 280-pounds will play both end and tackle depending on the situation.

Furthermore, the presence of quality pieces like ends Quentin Yontz and Noah Jones and tackles Joe Wallace and Nick McCann makes the 2018 defensive line by far the deepest in recent memory. This group has the talent and the depth needed to be an above average unit this fall and should it take a step forward, the Texas Tech defense will be even better than expected.