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Texas Tech football: 5 ex Red Raiders we wish we could add to 2019 defense

By Matthew Conner

FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 25: Pete Robertson #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 25: Pete Robertson #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 25, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
(Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /

Safety Dwayne Slay

Head coach Matt Wells has said that his team will prioritize stopping the run.  If that is his goal, former safety Dwayne Slay would be the perfect addition.

Though the former JUCO signee started only one season for the Red Raiders, he is remembered as one of the best defensive players in program history.  In 2005, he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a Sports’ Illustrated First-Team All-American after forcing a Big 12 record eight fumbles.

He finished that season with 114 total tackles, 75 of which were solo.  He also picked off a pass to bring his career total to three.

In seven of the 12 games he played, he had at least ten tackles including the final five games of the year.  His career-high of 18 came in a 28-0 shutout of Baylor that saw him make 12 solo stops and force a fumble.

Of course, Slay would have to learn how to play defense in the modern era of college football.  Many of his signature hits, such as the one that knocked Kansas St. QB Alan Everidge out of the game in Lubbock, would be flagged for targeting in 2019 as Slay was known for leading with his helmet, which was not illegal 14 years ago.

Still, the 6-foot-3, 214-pound native of Georgia would be the ideal run-stopping safety to replace Vaughnte Dorsey.  Slay would bring about the type of physicality and intensity that the Red Raider defense has been lacking in recent seasons.

What’s more, Patterson could bring Slay down into the box to play a little outside linebacker in his 3-3-5 scheme.  That would allow Slay to potentially get after the QB more than he did in his career as he registered only one career sack.

Thanks to his huge hits and his propensity for creating turnovers, Dwayne Slay remains one of the most popular players in the modern era of Tech football.  If we could add him to this year’s team, he would set the type of tone that Wells and his staff have been saying they want to set since they arrived last fall.

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