Texas Tech sports roundup: Canady snubbed, McCasland throwing to Jung, more

Here is your Texas Tech sports news roundup for Friday, May 30, 2025.

Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady snubbed for national award

Earlier this week, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award was handed out in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, despite being a finalist, Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady did not bring home the hardware.

Instead, the winner was Bri Ellis of Arkansas. The senior first baseman hit .440 with 26 home runs, 72 RBI, 146 total bases, 69 walks, and 68 runs scored while posting a 1.090 slugging percentage this season.

While those numbers were impressive, what Canady did as a two-way player in 2025 should have earned her the award. After Thursday's win over Ole Miss in the Women's College World Series, she now leads the nation with 31 wins and an ERA of 0.86. What's more, as a hitter, she has a .312 average and 11 homers in just 93 plate appearances.

Of course, Canady got the last laugh given that her team reached the World Series in Oklahoma City and Arkansas did not. Still, it was disappointing to see Canady passed over for the game's top honor.

On the other hand, the Red Raider star was named the NFCA Pitcher of the Year this week. It won't be the last award Canady wins in her Texas Tech career.

Grant McCasland to throw out first pitch at Texas Rangers game

Another beloved Red Raider, men's basketball coach Grant McCasland, will be throwing a pitch in front of a massive crowd tonight. As part of Texas Tech night, he will head to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Texas Rangers take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Arlington.

In addition, catching that pitch from McCasland will be former Texas Tech baseball standout Josh Jung, who is the starting third baseman for the Rangers. It will be a cool moment for Texas Tech fans everywhere, especially those who are also fans of the Texas Rangers.

Texas Tech golf finishes top 10 nationally

Monday, the Texas Tech men's golf team saw its season conclude at the NCAA Championships. Entering the event ranked 24th in the nation, the Red Raiders finished in 10th place in the field of 30 teams.

One player earning individual recognition was Texas Tech's Connor Graham. He picked up a pair of honors during the week of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, first being named to the PING All-Region Team and later named to the GCAA All-Freshman Team. 

In 2024-25, Graham led Texas TechHe also led the Red Raiders with seven Top 20 finishes, rounds carded below par (16), and rounds recorded even-par or better (25). He also tied for the team lead with seven eagles, and ranked second on the team for rounds shot in the 60s (11) during the year, with a 71.1 scoring average over 13 events and 41 rounds of golf.

Three Texas Tech football legends headed to Hall of Fame

This week, the Texas Tech Athletic Department announced its 2025 class. Among the eight athletes being inducted are three Red Raider football standouts.

Quarterback BJ Symons, safety Ryan Aycock, and defensive end Aaron Hunt are all headed into Tech's Hall of Fame. All three played during the Mike Leach era and made significant impacts during their time in Lubbock.

Symons was a starter for only one season (2003) but made the most of it. Despite playing half of the season with a torn knee ligament, he threw for an FBS record 5,833 yards while also tossing 52 touchdowns.

Aycock, a Lubbock native, had 11 career interceptions. That ranks eighth all-time in program history. Six of those picks came in his senior season, 2003.

As for Hunt, he is Texas Tech's all-time leader in career sacks with 34.0. When he left school, that was a Big 12 record.

The entire class will be inducted on November 7, 2025. The next day, they will be honored during Texas Tech's home football game vs. BYU.