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Texas Tech football: The top Red Raider from each season of the Big 12 era

By Matthew Conner

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes II #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warming up before the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes II #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders warming up before the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Linebacker Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

2019: Jordyn Brooks

Jordyn Brooks was the best Texas Tech linebacker since Zach Thomas.  And in 2019, he wrapped up his fantastic collegiate career in a huge way.

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A second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honoree, he took to new defensive coordinator Keith Patterson’s aggressive scheme by putting up career numbers.  Taking over at middle LB for the graduated Dakota Allen, Brooks registered 108 tackles (20 for loss) and three sacks despite missing the last game of the year.  He also forced a fumble and recovered two as the scheme change seemed to suit him just fine.  His 20 stops for a loss were the most by a Red Raider since Adell Ducket in 2003 as the new coaching staff unleashed him to create havoc in the backfield.

Last fall, Brooks had six games with double-digit tackles.  That included a monster showing against Oklahoma State.

In the upset of the No. 21 Cowboys in Lubbock, Brooks had 19 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble.  It was his fourth double-digit tackle game in the season’s first five.

Getting into the opposing backfield was his specialty.  He ranked second in the nation in tackles per loss per game at 1.8.  He also finished fifth nationally in solo stops per contest at 6.0.

Prior to 2019, the Houston native had a career-high of 89 tackles.  But as a senior, the move to middle LB and the new scheme he was asked to execute seemed to fit him perfectly and led to his being a first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks.

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Now we turn our attention to 2020, the 26th year of Big 12 football.  And with Brooks gone, Tech will need a new best player to emerge.  Perhaps it will be RB Sarodrick Thompson, LB Riko Jeffers, QB Alan Bowman, or WR T.J. Vasher.  But what we do know is that we can’t wait to start finding out who that will be.

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