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Texas Tech football: Surprises from the week-one depth chart

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

True freshman Tyrique Matthews earns starting “Raider” spot

One of the two hybrid positions that new defensive coordinator Keith Patterson will utilize is known as the “Raider”.  This player will be asked to be a combination defensive end and outside linebacker whose main job will be to rush the passer but who will also be asked to play some coverage and of course, be a key run-stopper.

With no obvious fits already on the roster, Patterson ran quite a few players through this spot in order to find an answer.  Now, it appears that true freshman Tyrique Matthews will get the first shot at locking up this crucial role.

Matthews was a productive high school player in the Houston area last year, but he was not heavily recruited.  With no other Power 5 offer aside from the one from the Red Raiders, the top schools he held offers from in addition to Tech were North Texas and SMU.

In spring practice, senior DE Lonzell Gilmore opened a few eyes when working at the Raider position but another injury, this one to a pectoral muscle, has kept him out for the entirety of August camp.  Therefore, it was believed that redshirt freshman Xavier Benson was in line to start at the Raider.

But on the depth chart, Benson (who has been a bit limited by nagging injuries in the last week) is not listed at Raider at all but rather at inside linebacker behind Riko Jeffers.  Interestingly, Jeffers is listed at the second-team Raider position meaning that if Matthews goes down, Benson would likely slide in at LB while Jeffers moved to Raider.

If will be fascinating to see how this position plays out.  For instance, we have to wonder who will take snaps at Raider if Matthews has to miss a play or two or even a series and Patterson doesn’t want to drop Jeffers out of the middle of the field.  Will Benson still get some run at Raider in that instance?

Patterson has said that versatility is the key to his defense.  That’s why we could see several of the linebackers on the roster utilized in a number of ways in this new scheme.  Still, it is a bit unexpected to see a true freshman who was just the 9th-highest rated 2019 signee in Tech’s class to earn a start in the season opener.

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