4. College Football News Preview 2020: Texas Tech Red Raiders Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense still needs a whole lot of tweaking and adjusting after giving up 30 points per game and finishing 127 in the nation in total D, but 16 of the top 20 tacklers are expected to be back. The secondary was ripped to shreds – allowing over 300 yards per game – and that was with a not-that-awful pass rush.
Two starters are gone from that secondary – including 63-tackle safety Douglas Coleman – but Damarcus Fields is a good-sized hitter and former corner Zech McPhearson is a veteran who can tackle. The interceptions have to come, though, with Coleman leading the way with eight of the team’s 14 picks. Fields came up with three.
– Leading tackler and star of the D Jordyn Brooks was taken by Seattle in the first round. 240-pound senior Riko Jeffers is back after finishing second on the team with 76 tackles, and Xavier Benson is a good-looking 220-pounder who can move on the outside.
Losing former Cal transfer Evan Rambo hurts, but overall, this group should get behind the line on a regular basis – the Red Raiders finished third in the Big 12 in tackles for loss.
– Top defensive lineman Broderick Washington is gone off the front three, but there’s good size and decent depth to play around with, The line won’t do a ton to get behind the line, but the beef is there around pound All-Big 12 performer Eli Howard and 6-2, 310-pound Nick McCann to be better against the run after allowing 173 yards per game.