Texas Tech football: All-time out of state Red Raider team

LB: Will Smith, Sylvester Brinkley, Branden Jackson

At linebacker, this roster would rely on an underrated edge rusher and some JUCO transfers.

We begin with the only 4-year Red Raider of the group, Branden Jackson.  The McKeesport, Pennsylvania native started 38 games at Tech from 2012-15.  During that time, he made 119 tackles and had 11 sacks.

At the other outside LB would be Stuart, Florida’s Sylvester Brinkley.  From 2004-05 the JUCO signee amassed 60 tackles and three interceptions.

Anchoring this trio would be Will Smith, a JUCO signee who had a solid Red Raider career.  The Riverside, California native had one of the best senior seasons in recent program history with 120 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2013.

This team would also benefit from the presence of Casselberry, Florida’s Tony Jones.  From 2017-18, he proved to be adept at getting to the QB with eight career sacks.

This linebacking corps does not have names that stand out as legendary figures as is the case with other all-time rosters.  But that could be in part because three of these players were JUCO players who only played two years at Tech meaning their overall stats were not as impressive as some four-year players may have put up.  Still, they would be a solid group that would give this roster some production in the middle of the defense.