Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

_

DCTF’S TAKE 

Texas Tech broke its glass ceiling and emerged as the dominant force of the Big 12 in the new era of college football. The Red Raiders cashed a massive bet in 2025 when they turned the nation’s best transfer portal class into a conference title and a trip to the College Football Playoff. 

The Brendan Sorsby bombshell in April lowers Texas Tech’s ceiling. The Red Raiders are still favorites to win the Big 12 if Will Hammond returns from injury by the time conference play starts, but any dreams of advancing deep into the CFP were likely lost with Sorsby. 

 

THE OFFENSE 

The shutout loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl makes it easy to forget that the Red Raiders offense ranked seventh nationally and led the Big 12 in scoring offense while averaging nearly 40 points per game under offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich. The unit was only held to fewer than 30 points three times all season, losing two of those games. 

Improving the red zone touchdown percentage is priority No. 1 for the offense in Lubbock. Texas Tech scored touchdowns on only 55.41 percent of its drives into the red zone, which ranked 98th nationally and 12th in the Big 12. Leftwich blames negative plays on first and second down and spent the offseason researching what makes teams successful in the red zone. 

“As a play caller, I need to be more committed to the run down there,” Leftwich admitted. “Through my studies, the one thing that sticks out is avoiding third-and-long. The teams that were Top 10 in red zone touchdowns avoided those situations, so we need better execution on first and second down, and a lot of that is me being a little more conservative and not trying to get too gimmicky in the pass game down there.” 

The addition of top-ranked transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby was supposed to aid in the red zone attack because of his size and running ability, but the news that he could be ineligible in 2026 because of past sports wagering transgressions puts the Red Raider offense in limbo heading into the dog days of summer. His status for the season was unclear at the time of print, but NCAA rules suggest that his college career is most likely done. 

Making matters worse is that Will Hammond, the future at QB for Texas Tech, wasn’t expected to be 100 percent healthy and ready for game time until Week 3, which is a home game against Houston to kick off Big 12 play. Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis is the expected starter if Sorsby and Hammond are unavailable to start the season. 

The running back room is stacked due to the return of Cam Dickey and J’Koby Williams, as well as a healthy Quinten Joyner, who was expected to be fully cleared by the summer after missing last season with a knee injury. Dickey and Williams combined for 1,992 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last year. They also combined for 60 catches and four touchdowns out of the backfield. 

The wide receiver room is deeper, and Leftwich expects more rotation in that room. Coy Eakin is the lone returning starter, and he’ll once again man the slot position with transfer Jalen Jones behind him. Other transfers like Kenny Johnson, Malcolm Simmons, and Donte Lee Jr. should earn snaps on the outside alongside Micah Hudson. Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. is a real weapon. 

Three starters return along the offensive line, with Howard Sampson (LT), Sheridan Wilson (C), and Jacob Ponton (RT) back in the fold. Louisville transfer Jordan Church is expected to start at right guard, with Hunter Zambrano and former walk-on D’Anthis Upshaw Jr. battling it out for the starting left guard spot. Former Colorado transfer Cash Cleveland can play center or guard, while five-star tackle Felix Ojo impressed during his first spring as a college player. 

? 

 

BY THE NUMBERS 

 

93 – Number of plays that went for 20-plus yards, which was best in the Big 12 and third-most in college football behind only Oregon and Ole Miss. 

 

39.4 – Points per game scored by the Texas Tech offense, which was seventh nationally. The Red Raiders averaged 11 points per game in their two losses. 

 

55.41 – Red zone touchdown percentage by Texas Tech in 2025, which was 98th nationally. The Red Raiders scored 41 touchdowns on 74 red zone trips. 

 

? 

 

KEEP AN EYE ON 

Texas Tech lost its two top receivers from last year in Caleb Douglas and Reggie Virgil, who accounted for a combined 111 catches for 1,501 yards and 13 touchdowns. But that doesn’t mean replacing that production falls solely on the wide receiver position. Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. is one of the best players at his position, and he’ll be a focal point of the Red Raider passing attack again in 2026 after compiling 51 catches for 532 yards and three touchdowns last year. Nevada transfer Jett Carpenter and true freshman Matt Ludwig provide depth at tight end. 

 

? 

 

BREAKOUT CANDIDATES 

WR Micah Hudson – The former five-star from Lake Belton hasn’t lived up to the hype in two disappointing seasons as a collegian, recording a combined 16 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns since 2024. Hudson has seemingly turned a corner with a phenomenal offseason and is in line to earn a starting spot. 

RB Quinten Joyner – The former USC transfer and Manor standout was expected to start at running back for the Red Raiders in 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the final scrimmage of fall camp. He was expected to be fully cleared by the summer and should add a new dimension to a talented running back room. 

——— 

 

PROJECTED STARTERS   

 

QB 15 Will Hammond 6-2, 210, Soph. Hutto    

 

RB 8 Cam Dickey 5-10, 185, Jr. Austin Crockett   

 

WR 3 Coy Eakin 6-2, 210, Sr. Stephenville   

 

WR 4 Kenny Johnson 6-1, 200, Sr. York, Pa.    

 

WR 1 Micah Hudson 6-0, 200, Jr. Lake Belton  

 

TE 7 Terrance Carter Jr. 6-2, 245, Sr. Killeen Harker Heights   

 

LT 79 Howard Sampson 6-8, 330, Sr. Humble     

 

LG 57 Hunter Zambrano 6-5, 305, Sr. Weston, Fla.  

 

C 72 Sheridan Wilson 6-5, 300, Sr. Argyle   

 

RG 54 Jordan Church 6-4, 310, Jr. Fort Myers, Fla.    

 

RT 70 Jacob Ponton 6-8, 305, Soph. Dripping Springs  

 

K 48 Stone Harrington 6-3, 200, Sr. Colleyville Heritage   

 

——— 

 

THE DEFENSE 

Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood believes the Red Raiders reloaded rather than rebuilt through the transfer portal after losing key pieces such as David Bailey, Lee Hunter, Jacob Rodriguez, and Romello Height from a unit that led the country in stop rate and allowed only 11.8 points per game, which trailed only Ohio State and Indiana. 

“It’s a new team and a new year,” Wood said. “We’ve got some players and coaches back, so we feel like heading into Year 2 in the system will help us hit the ground running and add a few wrinkles into the defensive scheme that we maybe didn’t show last year.” 

The Red Raiders were dominant up front and hope to be again despite losing multiple starters to the NFL. Defensive tackle A.J. Holmes is the anchor in the middle of the defense after earning All-Big 12 Third Team honors last year. He followed Wood from Houston ahead of 2025 and was one of the highest-graded interior linemen in the country, earning PFF All-American honors. 

Holmes will be flanked by Wake Forest transfer Mateen Ibirogba, who was the top-rated defensive tackle in the portal. Washington transfer Bryce Butler made a strong impression in the spring, and he can play nose guard or defensive tackle. The Red Raiders also added Jojo Johnson (Oregon State) and Julien Laventure (Akron) to the defensive tackle room. 

Transfers Trey White and Adam Trick are expected to replace Bailey and Height as the starters at defensive end. White recorded 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons at San Diego State, and Trick was a First-Team All-MAC selection last year at Miami of Ohio after registering 59 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles. 

“We may have to use more pass rush games or blitz more often this year to compensate for maybe not having those same guys that can affect (the quarterback) the way our front four did last year,” Wood said. “Replacing players like David (Bailey) and Romello (Height) would be difficult for anybody because those guys don’t come around every year.” 

The linebacker room is stacked despite losing Rodriguez. Ben Roberts returns after finishing second on the team last year with 90 tackles. He was the Defensive MVP of the Big 12 Championship game and will be one of the leaders on defense. Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine arrives in Lubbock after earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors at linebacker last season. John Curry, who starts at the nickel for Texas Tech, can also play linebacker. 

Corner is another strength for the Red Raider defense because they return Brice Pollock and Amier Boyd as starters. Pollock was an All-Big 12 First Team selection after leading the conference with five interceptions and posting a team-high seven pass breakups. Davin Martin and Ashton Hampton provide depth at the position. 

Brenden Jordan is a returning starter at safety and is expected to patrol the wide side of the field, while sophomore Malik Esquerra replaces Cole Wisniewski at the other safety spot. Peyton Morgan and Oliver Miles are sophomores on the rise. 

“I think we have improved our quality depth from last year,” Wood said about his defense. “We might not have the elite players, but we have more bodies who can play significant snaps for us this fall because our young guys have developed.” 

? 

 

BY THE NUMBERS 

83.5 – Percent of opponents’ drives that ended in a punt, turnover, or turnover on downs. Texas Tech led the country in stop rate. 

 

11.8 – Average number of points allowed by the Texas Tech defense, which was best in the Big 12 and third in the FBS behind Ohio State and Indiana. 

 

105 – Number of tackles for loss registered by the Red Raider defense, which was fourth in the nation and best in the Big 12. 

 

? 

 

KEEP AN EYE ON 

Texas Tech blitzed roughly 20 percent of the time last year, and that was among the lowest rates of any defense that ranked near the top in sacks and pressure percentages. That’s easier to do with multiple high NFL draft picks along the defensive line, headlined by a Top 5 pick in David Bailey. 

 

Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood expects his defense to blitz more in 2026 and use more stunts and twists to replicate those pressure numbers because the unit won’t have Bailey and Romello Height. The Red Raiders recorded 41 sacks in 2025, which led the Big 12 and was tied for sixth nationally. 

 

? 

 

BREAKOUT CANDIDATES 

DB Malik Esquerra – The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Killeen Shoemaker export is expected to replace Cole Wisniewski at the free safety spot to the boundary side of the field. The former three-star holds school records at Shoemaker in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, and his high ceiling excites the defensive staff in Lubbock. 

 

DT Bryce Butler – A 6-foot-4, 325-pound interior defensive lineman who will provide depth at defensive tackle and nose guard. He played 15 games over two seasons at Washington after starting his college career at Garden City Community College. Butler was credited with 19 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and two sacks last year. 

 

——— 

 

PROJECTED STARTERS   

 

DE 20 Adam Trick 6-4, 250, Sr. Dayton, Ohio   

 

DT 10 A.J. Holmes 6-3, 300, Sr. Spring Westfield  

 

DT 98 Mateen Ibirogba 6-4, 300, Sr. Clarksburg, Md.    

 

DE 2 Trey White 6-2, 255, Sr. San Diego, Calif.   

 

LB 15 Austin Romaine 6-2, 240, Sr. Hillsboro, Mo.    

 

LB 13 Ben Roberts 6-3, 245, Sr. Eaton   

 

CB 14 Brice Pollock 6-0, 195, Sr. Snellville, Ga.   

 

CB 27 Amier Boyd 6-2, 190, Sr. Phoenix, Ariz.   

 

FS 24 Malik Esquerra 6-3, 210, Soph. Killeen Shoemaker   

 

SS 7 Brenden Jordan 6-0, 205, Sr. Mansfield  

 

STAR 6 John Curry 6-2, 235, Jr. Lubbock Coronado    

 

P 49 Will Karoll 6-4, 215, Sr. New South Wales, Australia