Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 25
Next
Montae Reagor #34 of Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
Montae Reagor #34 of Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

1997: Montae Reagor

You could argue that Montae Reagor is the best defensive end in Red Raider history.  And in 1997, there was no question he was Tech’s best player.

Earning first-team All-American honors, he had 10.5 sacks, a total that sits good for 7th in program history to this day.  That year, he also had an interception, which he returned for 10 yards.

In year-two of Big 12 play, Tech managed to go just 6-5 for head coach Spike Dykes.  That season, the Red Raiders faced four ranked opponents including No. 5 Tennessee and their legendary QB Peyton Manning in the opener.  Unfortunatley, Dykes’ team won just one of those games.

While the 52-17 road loss to the Volunteers was ugly, it wasn’t all that unexpected.  But what did prove to be a baffling result that season was a 30-27 home loss to North Texas two weeks later.

Fortunately, the Red Raiders did redeem themselves a bit with a 16-13 upset of the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies in Lubbock.  Interestingly, that year, Tech never lost back-to-back games but also never managed to win more than two straight.

In Tech’s six wins, the defense gave up an average of just 10.1 points per game and Reagor was a huge reason why.  He was named the team MVP by his coaches and teammates and his breakout junior season set the stage for an even better senior year.

Home/Texas Tech Football