Last week, we discussed why the Texas Tech football program should pursue Houston transfer Anthony Holmes Jr. after he entered the portal on December 10. Now, just over a week later, he's committed to becoming a Red Raider according to a post he made on the social media platform X.
Just a sophomore in 2024, the native of Houston has 67 total tackles and 4.5 sacks thus far in his college career. This year, he was credited with 40 tackles and 2.0 sacks while playing for new Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood, who was the defensive coordinator in Houston this fall.
Holmes was part of a Cougar defense that ranked 19th nationally in yards allowed per game at 324.0. Meanwhile, Tech ranked 116th in that category this fall.
Committed!!! Let’s get to work!!🌵🌵#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/B9iZLHOOxR
— Anthony “AJ” Holmes Jr (@AnthonyJr10_) December 18, 2024
Holmes was an important part of the Houston defensive turnaround this year. In fact, his 693 snaps led all Cougar defensive linemen.
Additionally, he was tops on the team with 19 QB hurries (according to Pro Football Focus). That ranked third among interior defensive linemen in the Big 12.
Holmes is the third defensive lineman that Tech has added through the portal thus far. He joins UCF defensive tackle Lee Hunter and Northern Illinois defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard as reinforcements to the Tech defensive front, a unit that was decimated by injuries in 2024, especially at defensive end/edge rusher.
Hunter should also be invaluable because he knows what Wood wants and expects as the new defensive coordinator begins to implement his scheme in Lubbock. He is a veteran who played for Wood in 2024 and had success in that system and now he'll look to carry that over as a Red Raider in 2025.