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Texas Tech football: Mountaineer defenders that could be a problem this weekend

By Matthew Conner

Oct 17, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Dylan Tonkery (10) holds the West Virginia state flag before their team runs onto the field before their game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Dylan Tonkery (10) holds the West Virginia state flag before their team runs onto the field before their game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Tony Fields II (1) celebrates with linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo (7) after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2020; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Tony Fields II (1) celebrates with linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo (7) after a defensive stop during the third quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Fields is one of the Big 12’s best and most active linebackers

Tony Fields II has had a fantastic career.  But because most of that was spent in the PAC 12, few Red Raider fans know his name.

We had better learn it because the Arizona transfer is continuing his excellence this year as the senior already has 35 tackles, most in the conference.  That’s more than double the stops that his former Arizona teammate, Colin Schooler, has made for Tech in 2020.

In three of this year’s games, Fields has been WVU’s leading tackler.  In two of those (Eastern Kentucky and Baylor), he was credited with 10 tackles.

Much of his success is due to playing behind the Stills brothers, who often require double-teams thus keeping Fields clean and free to make plays from his middle LB spot.  Therefore, the Red Raiders must make certain to put some bodies on him if they want to keep him from dominating this game as well.

"“He plays with a lot of energy,” WVU head coach Neal Brown said earlier this season.  “He brings a speed element to the defense that we probably haven’t had in my two years here. He’s still learning what to do, but he plays full speed. He loves contact, loves to play, and he’s only going to continue to get better. He’s an NFL prospect. I mean, he’s going to play in the NFL.”"

Of course, the Red Raiders had to deal with Fields last year as well when they faced Arizona.  That night, he made nine tackles in the 28-14 Wildcat win and if he has a similar type of showing on Saturday, it could be a long day for the offense.

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