DT Jaylon Hutchings
Defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings was one of the surprises of last season when he became Tech’s starter in the middle of the defensive line as a redshirt freshman. After registering three tackles in 2018, he managed to come up with 27 last fall, including 3.5 for loss.
When the season began, it was assumed that sophomore Nick McCann would be the primary DT with Hutchings working his way into the mix as a backup. But injuries to McCann early in the year forced Hutchings into the starting role and he seized the opportunity making the final 10 starts of the year.
In five games, the Forney, Texas native managed to register at least three tackles. His best game was in week three against Arizona when he was credited with five stops, all of them being of the solo variety. What’s more, one of those tackles was his first career sack.
Also, Hutchings became Tech’s go-to on fake punts. As one of the backs in the backfield in the punt formation, twice he took the snap from center and tried to run for a first down. He was successful on his first attempt against Oklahoma but on a critical fourth-down play against Kansas State, he was stymied.
Now that Broderick Washington is in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, Hutchings is Tech’s leading returning tackler along the defensive line and hopefully, his days of carrying the ball are over, unless he picks up a fumble or two. And like last year, he and McCann will be expected to plug the middle of the defensive front. But this year, there are higher expectations for Hutchings after his emergence in 2019.