With Tyree Wilson officially declaring for the NFL draft and signing with an agent, his time with the Texas Tech Red Raiders is at its end. Now, the college superstar prepares for the NFL draft, where he will be among the elite prospects in program history.
Texas Tech football has sent prospects to the NFL every year since the 2016 NFL draft. Historically, the program has also provided several first-round picks, such as Jordyn Brooks, Patrick Mahomes, and Michael Crabtree.
Tyree Wilson has the potential to be taken higher than any of the recent first-round picks and appears likely to be the highest-drafted defensive player in program history.
Currently, the highest-drafted defender in Texas Tech football history is a tie between Super Bowl champion Ted Watts and Senor Sack Gabriel Rivera, who were both taken with the 21st pick.
While the range on Tyree Wilson varies from analyst to analyst, the consensus is that he will go in above the previous Texas Tech defenders. More recently, analysts have started projecting him to be a top-ten pick, with his highest projection being the fifth pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
Wilson going to the Seattle Seahawks would also put him on the same team as fellow Red Raider, Jordyn Brooks. While the two were never teammates in college, the two could become teammates in the NFL, with Seattle holding two first-round picks and needing defensive line help.
Even if Wilson ends up somewhere other than the Seahawks, the belief is that he will hear his name called early in the first round of the NFL draft. Given that he is receiving this praise after missing the end of his senior season to injury, there is reason to believe in the hype.
What makes Tyree Wilson such an exciting prospect?
Even before transferring in from Texas A&M University, the Red Raiders knew they were getting something special with Tyree Wilson. His combination of size and speed is a rare trait, and he has only continued to develop as a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Prior to his injury this season, Tyree Wilson was making a case that he was one of the best EDGE players in all of college football. He was among the leaders in all of college football in terms of tackles for loss and still leads the Big 12 conference despite playing one less game.
Tyree Wilson’s size and versatility allow him to get into the backfield from a variety of spots. Once he is in the backfield, he showcases a physical strength that can translate to Sundays.
“Nope. You ain’t going NOWHERE” -Tyree Wilson https://t.co/7LFVQPvteK
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 5, 2022
Wilson still has some parts to his game that could use refinement and the injury may concern some teams when it comes to using a top-ten pick in the draft. Still, the positives and potential will be too much for some teams to pass over.
Over the next six months, Tyree Wilson’s draft stock will continue to rise and fall as more opinions and observations are made. Still, there is a real possibility that Tyree Wilson will become one of the highest-drafted players in Texas Tech history, let alone the highest defensive player.