What we want to see in this weekend's Texas Tech football Spring Game
![Texas Tech's head coach Joey McGuire walks along the sidelines during the Independence Bowl game Texas Tech's head coach Joey McGuire walks along the sidelines during the Independence Bowl game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5263,h_2960,x_0,y_267/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/275/01hvpdqj08d8jq7e27k5.jpg)
Will any young Texas Tech pass rushers step up?
On the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, Texas Tech wasn't great last year either. Even with long-time veterans Jaylon Hutchings and Tony Bradford Jr. at the tackle spots, the defensive front often failed to make game-changing plays in 2023.
Now, Tech enters a season in which some young players are going to have to step up. With Bradford, Hutchings, Myles Cole, and Steve Linton all having left the program, the entire starting defensive line will be new this fall.
Unfortunately, a number of key defensive linemen missed the spring or were limited due to injuries. That does mean that some young players got tons of reps over the past month though and that could pay off down the line.
This Saturday, look to see if any of those young players make noise. Specifically, keep an eye on Amier Washington, the breakout star of the Independence Bowl who had four tackles for loss and two sacks against Cal in just his second college game.
Can he or another young defensive lineman make an impact and create negative plays on Saturday? The Red Raiders hope so because if 2024 is going to be a success, someone new is going to have to step up and lead the charge along the defensive line.