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Texas Tech football: The most underrated players of the Tommy Tuberville era

By Matthew Conner

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 30: Terrance Bullitt #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after his teams' 37-23 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils during their National University Holiday Bowl Game on December 30, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 30: Terrance Bullitt #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after his teams' 37-23 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils during their National University Holiday Bowl Game on December 30, 2013 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 12: Dartwan Bush #54 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders pursues B.J. Catalon #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – SEPTEMBER 12: Dartwan Bush #54 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders pursues B.J. Catalon #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

DL Dartwan Bush

While current San Francisco 49er Kerry Hyder was the best Texas Tech defensive lineman from 2010-13, during that time, his partner in crime was Dartwan Bush, whom Texas Tech football fans may not remember as readily.

Like Hyder, Bush was undersized at just 6-foot-1, 255-pounds.  But he was able to be a disruptive force off the edge.

He ended his time in Lubbock with 97 career tackles and 11. 5 sacks.  That included an impressive junior year for Tuberville in which he had 12 tackles for loss.  The year prior, he was credited with four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

But a knee injury slowed him in 2013 as he missed three games.  During that time, the Red Raiders began a losing streak that would eventually stretch to five games at the end of the season.

The greatest flaw in the 2019 Red Raider defense was the lack of quality defensive line depth and that was also a concern during Bush’s time.  Thus, he had to take on a heavier load each week than any lineman would prefer.

But when healthy, he was a pest.  In 2012, he was a key reason that the Red Raiders were able to finish No. 38 nationally in total defense in Tuberville’s final season.  That’s the type of defensive performance that Texas Tech football fans would kill for these days.  It would help if Matt Wells could find players like Dartwan Bush.

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