Texas Tech fans celebrate 2 Red Raiders earning spots on preseason All-American teams

Texas Tech's linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) makes a tackle against TCU, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech's linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) makes a tackle against TCU, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, at Jones AT&T Stadium. | Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rolling into the 2025 Texas Tech football season, Red Raider fans have plenty to be proud of. This is a season that looks like it’s going to be something special. Or at least the potential for something special to happen is certainly there. 

With the way the Red Raiders have recruited through the transfer portal and also adjusted for certain assistant coaching staff changes, the Texas Tech football team is poised to have some success this season.

And folks are taking notice.

We’ve got media members who are paying attention to Texas Tech in ways that they haven’t in the past. We’ve also got media members taking a look at Texas Tech’s roster and identifying players who could have significant impacts on this coming season.

Phil Steele falls into that latter category as he’s pointed out a couple of Texas Tech football players who have made it onto his preseason All-American teams.

That’s something for Red Raider fans to celebrate, for sure. And Texas Tech fans are thrilled for both Rodriguez and Hunter making it onto this list ahead of the 2025 college football season. 

Texas Tech football fans enjoy seeing two Red Raiders end up on Phil Steele’s 2025 preseason All-American teams

Here’s how Texas Tech fans are reacting to the news:

It’s a big deal! It’s something worth enjoying! 

It’s also something that apparently warrants the use of a bunch of emojis!

And yeah, it’s certainly fine to wish that more Red Raiders were included here. I don’t fault anyone for thinking that Texas Tech has a couple of other players (particularly on the defensive front) who deserve to be included on at least one of Steele’s preseason All-American teams.

And yeah, it’s absolutely fascinating to see such a point of emphasis being put on Texas Tech’s defense by just about everyone this offseason. The Red Raiders have prioritized improvements happening on that side of the ball and it sure looks like Texas Tech has put together a defense that is primed for success this season.