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Texas Tech football: Ranking the defensive position groups for 2019

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Jordyn Brooks #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes the catch and scores during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on September 29, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 55-19. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 29: Jordyn Brooks #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes the catch and scores during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on September 29, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 55-19. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

The defense ends will have to outperform their past productivity

The most concerning position group on the roster at this point is defensive end where only one player, Eli Howard, has more than two career sacks.  That’s not especially ideal for a defensive coordinator that prioritizes putting pressure on the QB.

Howard enters the year as the most accomplished pass rusher on the team.  The junior from San Angelo had 3.5 sacks last year, third-most on the team.  However, that was down from the 5.5 he had in 2017.

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Howard needs to be even better than he was in his redshirt freshman season two years ago if this defense is going to take a step forward.  The 270-pounder is an unquestioned leader on the team and hopefully, he can lead the way with his play as well.

Behind him, there is plenty of potential but no proven commodities.  Could this be the year that senior end Lonzel Gilmore finally makes the type of impact his physique and athleticism suggest he should be capable of?  Thus far, the 280-pounder has made just 1.5 sacks in three years as a Red Raider.

Another player that could step forward is sophomore Nelson Mbanasor, who nearly left the program last fall but was convinced to stay by Wells and his staff.  The 280-pounder from Pflugerville will see plenty of action on the end of the line this fall after being used sparingly in 10 games last fall.

Mbanasor was a highly-regarded high school recruit in 2017 with offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma State, and others.  Now, it is time for him to live up to the hype that surrounded him when he signed with the Red Raiders.

Because of the lack of proven talent at end, Tech’s two 2019 defensive end signees could also see some time in the rotation this year.   Gilbert Ibeneme, a 4-star signee, and Tony Bradford Jr. a 3-star signee are two of the better defensive end prospects to sign with the Red Raiders in recent years and they will likely be needed in some capacity this year.

We often point to Tech’s awful numbers against the pass last year as proof of the secondary’s struggles.  But everyone knows that the defensive line is just as responsible for controlling the opposition’s aerial attack.

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If the defensive ends can be more of a disruptive force this year, Tech’s ability to hold up in the passing game will be far greater.  But if that is going to happen, more than one player is going to have to have a career season.

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