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Texas Tech football: The strengths of the Red Raiders’ 2020 signing class

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Defensive Lineman Lonzell Gilmore #94, head coach Matt Wells, and defensive back Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders wait in the tunnel before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Defensive Lineman Lonzell Gilmore #94, head coach Matt Wells, and defensive back Douglas Coleman III #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders wait in the tunnel before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Scottie Phillips #22 of the Mississippi Rebels, Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Scottie Phillips #22 of the Mississippi Rebels, Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

This class includes some intriguing linebackers

In recent years, Texas Tech football fans have been spoiled at the linebacker position with Dakota Allen, Jordyn Brooks, and Riko Jeffers all proving to be elite players in the middle of the defense.  Now, the Red Raiders are fortifying that position group with a wave of talent that is interesting because it is a mix of versatility and instant impact.

Most importantly might be the addition of JUCO LB Krishon Merriweather, who just committed to Tech this week.  The second-team JUCO All-American had 153 tackles this year and looks to be a potential walk-in starter at middle linebacker.  He will be on campus for spring practice thus giving him an opportunity to take the place of Brooks.

The highest-rated defensive player in this class is L.B. Moore from Tascosa H.S. in Amarillo.  The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is going to start out at outside LB for the Red Raiders after playing DE in high school.  With 11 sacks this fall, he seems to be a perfect fit for the “Raider” position that DC Keith Paterson likes to use, which is a hybrid DE/LB.

The No. 5 player in this class, he is rated as the No. 103 player in Texas this year.  He picked Tech over offers from Baylor, Purdue, Kansas, and Air Force.

By the time Merriweather is out of eligibility, perhaps Shertz, Texas product Derreck Lewis II will be ready to patrol the middle of the Red Raider defense.  He picked Tech over offers from Nebraska, Kansas State, Kansas, and Oklahoma State among others.

What this trio does is solidify the LB corps in a number of ways.  First of all, adding two middle linebackers means that the middle of the defense is being reinforced so that we will hopefully have a couple of prospects who can keep alive Tech’s string of impact players at that spot.

What’s more, Moore and Michigan State transfer Brandon Bouyer-Randle are two potential pass-rush specialists off the edge, something that the No. 128 pass defense in the nation desperately needs.  That’s why it is easy to like what the Red Raiders have done at this position group in 2020.

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