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Texas Tech football: Extra observations from dominant win over Baylor

By Matthew Conner

Oct 7, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Baylor Cupp (88) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown catch against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Baylor Cupp (88) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown catch against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 09: Charles Esters III #49, Jalen McCoslin #47 and Eric Monroe #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders run onto the field before the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 09: Charles Esters III #49, Jalen McCoslin #47 and Eric Monroe #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders run onto the field before the college football game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech has a pair of young defensive linemen show out vs. Baylor

Yes, everyone is still buzzing about the dominant performance from edge rusher Steven Linton on Saturday.  His two strip-sacks in the first half gave us a glimpse of what we’ve expected to see from him all season.

Don’t overlook the play of two young pups on the defensive line, though.  Both E’Maurion “Dooda” Banks and Charles Esters III were impactful and productive and showed us what the future of the defensive line could be.

Banks had his best game thus far with four tackles, including one for loss.  The only other time this year that he’s registered any stats was in the opener when he managed three tackles against Wyoming.

Nagging injuries have caused him to miss multiple games thus far but he appears to be back to being close to full health.  At 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, he can be a tremendous asset for this team because he can spell starting DTs Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford, and on Saturday, he proved that he can be more than a space-eater, he can be a disruptor.

Speaking of disruption, Esters III was a menace for most of the night.  Registering two sacks of his own, the redshirt sophomore from Cedar Hill, Texas got to the QB for the first time in his career.

Playing as an edge rusher, Esters is an explosive athlete who was credited with seven tackles against Oregon and two more against Houston.  However, he had not been nearly as noticeable as he was in Waco.

Remember that Tech will lose Bradford and Hutchings as well as defensive end Myles Cole after this season.  That’s going to put Banks and Esters into key roles next year and on Saturday, they both took steps toward showing that they might be ready to handle that responsibility in the future while also contributing for the rest of 2023.

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