Interesting take aways as Joey McGuire reveals post-spring Texas Tech depth chart

Amier Washington listed as third-team defensive end

Proving that it takes more than one game to become a star, Amier Washington is listed as just the third-team "field" defensive end. That is a bit of a surprise given how well he ended the year and that the first-team player at that position, Isaac Smith, didn't fully participate in the spring given that he also was working his way back from an injury.

Washington, who was praised by the coaching staff for his work in the spring, is raw. In fact, he's played only one game at defensive end during his Red Raider career.

But what a game it was, though. In the Independence Bowl, the then-true freshman racked up four tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble in just his second-ever game for the Red Raiders. That led many to believe that Washington was on his way to stardom and he may still be. However, he finds himself with work to do if he wants to rise to the top of the depth chart.

Smith, on the other hand, might be a bit of a forgotten man. Last year, the Oklahoman had to miss the entire season because of an injury.

However, fans need to remember that at the end of the 2022 season, when star DE Tyree Wilson was lost to a broken foot, Smith stepped in as a redshirt freshman and played well. He racked up 11 tackles and a sack in the final three games of that fall in what was his first extended opportunity for playing time at the college level.

Behind Smith but in front of Washington on the depth chart is Charles Esters. Last year, as a sophomore, he made 26 stops and had three sacks in limited action.

The takeaway here is that this defenisve end group is loaded with talent, even if it is talent that is largely unproven. There would have been many seasons in Red Raider history when a player as talented as Washington would be a guaranteed starter but this year, because of the depth at his position, he is going to have to earn his opportunities.