Texas Tech football: Five seniors we hope return in 2021

Nick McCann

Since 2018, Texas Tech has not signed a defensive tackle.  Thus, if the Red Raiders could bring senior defensive tackle Nick McCann back for another go-round in 2021, it would help bridge the gap until the next group of DTs is ready to contribute.

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Last year, McCann teamed with redshirt freshman Jaylon Hutchings, to form a serviceable defensive tackle tandem.  That duo combined for 39 tackles and they are expected to be even better this season with a year of experience in Keith Patterson’s defense under their belt.

McCann and Hutchings are the types of unsung heroes that a solid defense needs to have.  They don’t always grab headlines and their stats won’t jump off the page but they do the dirty work that allows a player like Jordan Brooks to rack up over 100 tackles.

But if McCann doesn’t come back in 2021, he will leave Tech rather thin at DT.  That’s because there are no other true defensive tackles on the roster this year and the only tackle committed to the 2021 class is 3-star JUCO prospect Demeco Roland.

Therefore, McCann is a player Tech would love to have back for another season in 2021.  He’s not a star but he fulfills a critical role for the Red Raiders and having him back for one more ride would help solidify an aspect of the Texas Tech defense that has for too long been a glaring weakness.