Texas Tech football’s Isaac Smith will miss the 2023 season after a long period of speculation
The Texas Tech football defensive end had to sit out last season after knee surgery, but was busy helping his teammates
Tim DeRuyter has given fans of the Texas Tech football team reason to have confidence in his job as defensive coordinator.
The Red Raiders’ points per game have declined for three years in a row, reaching a 14-season low last year with 26.0 points allowed per game. That number, and the 29.15 points per game the Red Raiders allowed in 2022, mark the first time Tech has allowed fewer than 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009, when opponents’ averages were 26.85 and 23.23, respectively.
It’s no coincidence that the 2008 and 2009 teams combined for a 20-6 record. If the Red Raiders want to get back to that level, as they hope to do this season with a favorable schedule, they’ll have to continue the positive trend on defense.
Is that doable? The 2024 season will be DeRuyter’s third with the Red Raiders after coming over from Oregon. He’ll have his hands full trying to seamlessly carry on with a defense that lost six longtime starters, including three in the secondary and two at defensive tackle.
Let’s take a closer look at the individual positions.
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Defensive line
Expected starters: DE Isaac Smith, Jr.; NT Quincy Ledet, Sr.; DT Dooda Banks, Jr.; DE Joseph Adedire, Jr.
Primary depth: DE Charles Esters, Jr.; DE Amier Washington, Jr.; NT Jayden Cofield, Miss; NT James Hansen, Sr.; DT De’Braylon Carroll, Sr.; DT Trevon McAlpine, So.; DE Harvey Dyson, So.
In short: The Red Raiders are replacing full-time starters Myles Cole, Tony Bradford and Jaylon Hutchings, as well as a part-time starter in Steve Linton. Bradford and Hutchings have long been anchors at the defensive tackle position. The situation may not be as dire as it sounds. The edge and tackle position groups are full of players who showed promise when they were younger and are now moving into bigger roles.
To determine: Who’s in the rotation and how many players are in play? The coaches have said they have seven playable defensive tackles. That falls into the “believe it when you see it” category. None of the seven are proven players that will make a difference in a power conference. Ledet, Carroll and Hansen all transferred from Group of Five programs. Can they be more than rotation guys? Fringe players Smith, Adedire, Esters, Dyson and Washington all flashed potential as young players. Will any of them emerge as forces? From a tactical standpoint, the coaches want to run more plays — use turns, stunts, loops — to create pressure up the middle that was lacking last year. How noticeable will that be, and how much will it help?
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Linebackers
Expected starters: Field ILB Ben Roberts, So.; Boundary ILB Jacob Rodriguez, Jr.
Primary depth: Field ILB John Curry, Fr.; Border ILB Bryce Ramirez, Sr.; ILB Justin Horne, Ms.; ILB Wesley Smith, So.; ILB Trent Low, Jr.; ILB Mike Dingle, Ms.
In short: With Roberts and Rodriguez, Tech has perhaps one of the best inside linebacker duos in the conference. The roster depth isn’t bad either: Ramirez is a seasoned veteran and Curry is emerging less than two years after signing.
To determine: A foot injury in the opening game cost Rodriguez eight games last season. However, in the games he did play, he showed what he could do and was voted the Independence Bowl’s best defensive player. It’s not out of the question that he can play at an All-Big 12 level, but that remains to be seen. Roberts recorded 104 tackles last season, but as productive as he and Rodriguez were, the position group produced just 1 1/2 sacks. After rewatching every game last season, McGuire concluded that the Red Raiders lack effective pass rushers at those positions and would be better off not asking them to blitz.
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Defensive Backs
Expected starters: CB Bralyn Lux, Sr.; star S AJ McCarty, Jr.; FS Chapman Lewis, So.; Boundary S Julien (CJ) Baskerville, Sr.; CB Maurion Horn, So.
Primary depth: CB Jalon Peoples, So.; S Brenden Jordan, So.; FS Jordan Sanford, So.; FS Joseph Plunk, Sr.; Boundary S Javeon Wilcox, Fr.; S-CB Devynn Cromwell, Sr.
In short: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Malik Dunlap, Rayshad Williams and Tyler Owens made 103 college starts, most of them as Red Raiders, and finished their eligibility last year. The result: The Red Raiders’ secondary is transforming from a group of mostly fifth- and sixth-year seniors to a unit with more than a little youth and inexperience. They will look to Lux and Baskerville as leaders.
To determine: Lux is the recognized No. 1 cornerback for the first time. He will face off against the other team’s best receiver every week, just as Joey McGuire planned. McCarty, Lewis and Horn are all talented – and all starting for the first time. Maybe it will work out, but the circumstances have the potential for mishaps.
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