Texas Tech football classics: Trick play leads Red Raiders past Horns in 2015

Three of this game’s defensive leaders would flame out at Tech

This was not a banner night for defensive coordinator David Gibbs and the Texas Tech defense.  However, it was interesting to see that there was potential on that side of the football.  However, many of that night’s defensive leaders would prove to be flameouts before their careers in Lubbock would conclude.

Tech was led in tackles by freshman LB D’Vonta Hinton who had eight (tied with fellow LB Malik Jenkins).  That year, he would have 53 tackles including 5.5 for loss and two sacks.  It appeared that Tech had found a future defensive star to lead the way for the next several seasons, something that was desperately needed at that time.

But Hinton would see his Red Raider career cut short.  By 2017, he would leave the program leaving a huge hole to be filled in the Tech linebacking corps.

Also on the Tech defense that night was a former 4-star corner, Nigel Bethel.  Coming up with five tackles and one impressive INT, in which he wrestled the ball away from a much bigger receiver, Bethel had one of his best games as a Red Raider that night.  However, after ending that season with 43 tackles and 11 pass defenses, the often-troubled Florida native would leave the program as well.

Speaking of players that would leave the program early, playing defensive tackle that night for Tech was former high school All-American Breiden Fehoko from Hawai’i.  He was noticeable with three tackles, including one for loss, and several QB pressures.

A freshman that season, he would amass only 19 total tackles.  And after putting up just 19 tackles the next season, he would clash with the Texas Tech coaching staff leading to his transfer to LSU.  Though his departure would prove to be no huge development given that he would end his college career with only 71 career tackles, he was supposed to be a future star of the Red Raider defense as his signing was lauded as one of the most significant in program history.

Of course, the defense would prove to be Kliff Kingsbury’s undoing as Texas Tech head coach.  And the loss of these three players was one of the reasons why Gibbs had to operate with a talent deficit on his side of the ball in the future seasons.  It is fair to wonder what the defense would have looked like if these three players would have stuck around and panned out.  Of course, we will never know. But on one night in Austin seven years ago, they all played well and helped Tech end almost two decades of futility on the road against UT.