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

DB: Dwayne Slay, Elmer Tarbox, Ted Watts, Tre’ Porter

In the secondary, Brunswick, Georgia native Dwayne Slay would be the unquestioned headliner.  The 2005 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year was the first Red Raider to earn first-team All-American honors since Monte Reagor in 1998.

In his only season as a starter (2005), he racked up 114 tackles, one sack, one interception, and forced a school and conference-record eight fumbles.  However, it is fair to question how effective he would be in today’s game because most of his trademark bone-jarring hits would be deemed illegal given the current focus on player safety.

A legendary name in program history, Elmer Tarbox, also joins this secondary.  The Bishop, Oklahoma native grew up in Higgins, Texas but we will put him on this roster because as most Texans are all too quick to point out, you aren’t actually a Texan unless you were born between the Red River and the Rio Grande.

In a playing career that spanned from 1936-38, he intercepted 17 passes, second-most in Tech history.  In 1939, he was the program’s second player to ever be drafted when the Cleveland Rams took him with the No. 18 overall pick.  More importantly, he was a B-25 pilot in WW II and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service.

Another legendary Red Raider defensive back, Ted Watts joins this defensive backfield.  The Tarpon Springs, Florida native was a star safety at Tech from 1978-80 who, like Slay, was known as a huge hitter.

A two-time all-Southwest Conference selection, Watts combined for 149 tackles and 19 pass defenses in 1979 and 1980. His senior season garnered first-team All-America honors.

At the other corner position, we would find Tre’ Porter from Midwest City, Oklahoma.  Racking up 206 tackles and two interceptions from 2010-2013, he was an all-conference honorable mention honoree in each of his final two seasons in Lubbock.