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Texas Tech football: Positions that need JUCO or grad transfer reinforcements

By Matthew Conner

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - OCTOBER 26: Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders carries the ball during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - OCTOBER 26: Ta'Zhawn Henry #26 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders carries the ball during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns  (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns  (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The defensive line needs depth if nothing else

It was no secret that the Red Raiders did not get the type of play in 2019 along the defensive line that is needed to be relevant in the Big 12.  That’s a frightening thought given that the best player on that defensive front, Broderick Washington, is out of eligibility and senior-to-be Eli Howard has played the last two years with injuries that have forced him to cut down on practice time and have limited his effectiveness.

Of the returners, there’s not a ton of proven playmakers.  Jaylon Hutchings and Nick McCann will be back to play nose tackle while Tony Bradford Jr. and Nelson Mbanasor look to be the best options at end.

That group combined for just 87 tackles and 8.5 sacks among them.  That’s not good enough.

There’s hope that 4-star 2019 Gilbert Ibeneme will be a significant contributor after missing the entire season with a shoulder injury.  Tech may also get John Scott III back after he missed the season while recovering from a gunshot wound suffered last summer at a pool party.

Still, Tech needs to be adding talent by any way possible along the DL.  There are currently only two defensive linemen in the 2020 class, L.B. Moore from Amarillo and Philip Blidi from Portales, NM.

There is still room for as many as three more defensive linemen, especially given that 2019 signee Quentin Williams has entered the transfer portal.  The problem is that finding quality high school d-linemen is one of the most difficult tasks in the game because that is the most coveted position group for almost any coaching staff.

The problem in 2019 wasn’t the talent of the starters.  It was the fact that the lack of depth made it impossible for Tech to have a true rotation and eventually, the defensive line wore down in the second half of virtually every game.

So we should expect Wells and Co. to try their best to add a JUCO or transfer or two along the defensive front.  If they don’t, we may actually see next year’s d-line take a step back from what we saw this year.  That’s a frightening thought.

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