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Texas Tech football: Red Raiders that have to come up big against WVU

By Matthew Conner

Sep 2, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jerand Bradley (9) scores a touchdown in double overtime against the Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Jerand Bradley (9) scores a touchdown in double overtime against the Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Tech’s linebacker Jesiah Pierre (8) yells before the game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech’s linebacker Jesiah Pierre (8) yells before the game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at Jones AT&T Stadium. /

Texas Tech middle LB Jesiah Pierre will be tested by the WVU run game

The entire West Virginia offensive attack revolves around running the ball with bruising RB CJ Donaldson.  Thus, Tech’s starting middle LB, Jesiah Pierre, will have to be at his best.

So far, the former Florida transfer has been fantastic this season.  He’s leading the team with 25 tackles, including 18 solo.

With fellow middle LB Jacob Rodriguez out with a foot injury and redshirt freshman Ben Roberts making his first Big 12 start in Rodriguez’s place, Pierre will again have to be the rock that this defense is built on.

The case could easily be made that Pierre is this team’s most irreplaceable player on either side of the ball.  That’s because there simply are no experienced options on the depth chart behind him.

Last week against Tarleton State, we got a brief glimpse of what life might be like without Pierre when an injury forced him to leave the game near halftime.  Fortunately, he returned to start the third quarter as disaster was averted.

This week, Pierre has to be up to the task of playing against a rugged WVU rushing attack that features five returning starters from 2022’s offensive line and one of the most powerful RBs in the conference in the 238-pound Donaldson. All season, Pierre has been one of this defense’s best players and that has to continue to be the case this weekend against the Mountaineers because this game will be won and lost between the tackles.

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