DL: Gabe Rivera, Kerry Hyder, Adell Duckett, Ecomet Burley, Broderick Washington
Leading what would be a nightmare of an offensive line is Gabe Rivera. Known as “Senor Sack”, the San Antonio native was likely the best defensive player to ever don the Double-T.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, Rivera’s career, which spanned 1979-1982 included 321 career tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 11 pass deflections, and six fumble recoveries. He earned consensus First-Team All-America honors in 1982 while also being named an Honorable-Mention All-American as a sophomore.
If there was one Red Raider that I could go back in time and watch with my own eyes, it would be Rivera. A 300-pound nose tackle that could outrun most running backs and receivers, he was an athletic phenomenon that we will never see the likes of again.
While Rivera was the most gifted defensive player Tech has ever produced, Austin’s Kerry Hyder might have been the biggest overachiever. The 280-pounder had to play out of position at defensive tackle for most of his career due to the flaws of the roster at that time.
Still, from 2010-13, he racked up176 tackles and eleven sacks. Hyder was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in both his junior and senior seasons. Currently, he is in training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.
The program’s second all-time leading sack artist, Adell Ducket from Mineral Wells would also be on this roster. From 2001-2004, the dominant defensive end terrorized opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 28 sacks and his 14 sacks in 2003 are the second-most ever in a single season for a Texas Tech player.
A name that most Red Raider fans do not recognize, Ecomet Burley, also belongs on this list. From 1972-75 the Lufkin product was one of the top defensive tackles in the Southwest Conference earning All-SWC honors in each of his final three years. The 2019 inductee into the SWC Hall of Fame was the second Red Raider DT to be named an All-American when he was honored as such in 1974.
It would be wrong to not include current Red Raider nose tackle Broderick Washinton on this team as well. Entering the 2019 season, the Longview native has started 25-straight games and has 95 tackles and 8.5 sacks to his name.