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Texas Tech football: 5 reasons Red Raiders will be better in 2022

By Matthew Conner

Dec 28, 2021; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jerand Bradley (89) runs with the ball as Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Decamerion Richardson (30) tries to catch him during the second half as at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2021; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jerand Bradley (89) runs with the ball as Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Decamerion Richardson (30) tries to catch him during the second half as at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 20: Defensive back Reggie Pearson Jr. #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 20: Defensive back Reggie Pearson Jr. #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends during the second half of the college football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

An experienced defense

Maybe the days of being inexperienced or young on a particular side of the ball are over thanks to the transfer portal.  Regardless of if that’s the case, Tech cetinaly believes that its old and experienced 2022 defense will be a strength this fall.

All elven players expected to start will be either juniors or seniors.  What’s more, nine of the players expected to be on the second-team defense are upperclassmen.

That sould leave no excuses on that side of the ball this year.  Even when an injury or two crops up, this team is more equipped to handle it than has been the case in recent history.

The secondary is expected to be a strength, which is odd to say considering that Tech was No. 119 overall and No. 10 in the Big 12 against the pass (in terms of yards allowed) a season ago.  But all five of the starters in the defenisve backfield will be seniors as will be three of the four top backups.  That experience should help the defense tremendously.

Also, there is plenty of depth along the defensive line, which is not something that this program has enjoyed all that often during the modern era.  Tyree Wilson and Jaylon Hutchings could prove to be all-conference performers and they will be joined by senior Tony Bradford Jr. and junior Philip Blidi to form a solid group in the trenches.

At linebacker, where Tech lost Colin Schooler and Riko Jeffers from last season, senior Krishon Merriweather returns to man the middle of the defense.  He will be flanked by junior Jesiah Pierre, a former transfer from Florida who has yet to live up to his 4-star billing as a signee, and Dimirti Moore, a senior transfer from Missouri State who was once a freshman All-SEC selection while playing for Vanderbilt.

Last year, Tech’s defense took a small step forward.  Jumping from No. 99 in total defnese in 2020 to No. 86 in 2021, Tech made strides in the right direction for the first time in quite a while.  Most of last year’s key contributors are back and they have a year’s worth of seasoing to fall back on.  Thus, it would not be ridiculous to expect another step forward in 2022 on the side of the ball that has long been this program’s biggest weakness.

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