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
5 of 25
Next
Dante Hall #34 of the Texas A&M Aggies grips the ball as he is tackled by Atawn Alexander #30 and Kevin Curtis #31 of Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
Dante Hall #34 of the Texas A&M Aggies grips the ball as he is tackled by Atawn Alexander #30 and Kevin Curtis #31 of Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

1999: Kevin Curtis

With 430 career tackles, former safety Kevin Curtis sits at No. 3 in Texas Tech football history.  And in the final year of the Spike Dykes era, he was the best player on the team.

As a sophomore, the Coronado High School product was spectacular with 153 total stops, 93 of the solo variety.  He also picked off three passes on his way to earning all-conference recognition.

The final season of the previous century was a turbulent ride for Tech.  After losing star RB Ricky Williams for the year in a season-opening loss to Arizona State, Tech also dropped a week-three home game to North Texas.  The Red Raiders were also blown out by at least 20 points by both Missouri and Oklahoma State in addition to being embarrassed by Texas 58-7.

On the other hand, Tech stunned No. 5 Texas A&M 21-19 and upset an OU team that would win the next season’s national title in Dyke’s final game.  It was also a rollercoaster of a year for the Red Raider defense.

Allowing 25 points per game, the Red Raiders gave up an average of 35 points in that season’s five losses while only surrendering just 16.1 in the six wins.  And when the defense was on-point, it was almost always Kevin Curtis leading the way.

His best performance was a 20-tackle game against Baylor.  That day, he also picked off a pass and recovered a fumble to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and show just how he could change a game from the safety position.

Home/Texas Tech Football