Texas Tech football: Safety Eric Monroe to return for 2021 season

Friday, senior safety Eric Monroe announced his intention to return to the Texas Tech football program in 2021.

Another key piece of the Texas Tech football team’s defense is returning for one last season.  Safety Eric Monroe announced Friday that he will be back on the field for the Red Raiders in 2021 as he joins the likes of linebackers Colin Schooler and Riko Jeffers and corner DaMarcus Fields as seniors who are deciding to take advantage of the NCAA’s rule that allows players not to count the 2020 season as part of their eligibility.

This year, Monroe was third on the team with 59 tackles after joining the program as a grad transfer from LSU.  He was also credited with two pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

In his first year as a starter at the collegiate level, the safety had a pair of double-digit tackle performances.  He was credited with a season-high 12 stops against Iowa State and against Baylor, he was in on 10 tackles.

In the final five games of the year, Monroe seemed to grow more comfortable in the defense.  After averaging 4.8 tackles per game in the first five contests of 2020, he was responsible for seven per game in the last five.

He was part of a Red Raider secondary that made noticeable strides this season.  After ranking 128th out of 130 teams in passing yards allowed last season by giving up over 307 per game, this year, Tech ranked 100th nationally by surrendering 258.5 per game.  Now, Monroe wants one more opportunity to go out with a better season than we saw Tech have in 2020.

"“One more year at The Jones,” Monroe wrote on Twitter.  “I am incredibly thankful for such an experience in my first season as a Red Raider.  I can’t wait to get back to work with Coach Wells, Coach [Keith Patterson], and my teammates on making 2021 a season to remember.  Unfinished Business!  Wreck’Em!”"

This development was important for the Texas Tech secondary as it means that only one new starter at safety will have to be found.  Earlier this week, the Red Raiders’ other starter at safety in 2020, Thomas Leggett, announced his intentions to pursue a professional football career.

With 51 tackles on the year, Leggett was sixth on the Red Raider defense.  He was also credited with three pass defenses and he was a key special teams player.

It will be interesting to see if Tech goes to the transfer portal once again to find Leggett’s replacement or whether his successor is already on the roster.  But the good news is that Monroe’s return means that at least one starter will be back to help solidify the back of the Red Raider defense.