⚡ CFB Dashboard

Podcast: Red Raider Recon | Texas Tech Athletics Episode: Linebackers | Roberts and Curry | Turnovers | Red Raider Recon Transcript: When you feels a little unclear, need a laugh, need a break down, need an inside. Turn the dial, find a couple of friends. Clint Scott Rob here again. Red Raider recon take you through it all. From the roar and the Jones to the hardwood call. Every big play, every wild night win. Red Raider recon. Yeah, they let you in. >> Welcome into Red Recon brought to you by Kantex Roofing. I'm Clint Scott. He's Rob Bro. >> This week WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MUSTACHE BOYS. >> You can just call them the linebackers. >> The mustache men. >> That was not the part that was the problem. >> The Sons of Thunder. better >> and their mustaches. >> Why? >> It's fun. >> The Texas Tech linebacker group is an odd case. On one hand, they're bringing back some familiar faces that played major roles on last year's Big 12 championship winning team. On the other hand, they're still trying to replace one of the best players Texas Tech has ever had. Jacob Rodriguez cleaned house when it came to postseason awards. He took home the Bed Merrick, Bucktiss, Lombardi, Naggerski, and Big 12 defensive player of the year. He also earned Consensus first team all-American honors while finishing fifth in the Heisman Award voting. Along with Rodriguez, they also said goodbye to locker room leader and captain Bryce Ramirez who wore the coveted number three for his final three seasons. Through the transfer portal, the Red Raiders brought in veteran linebackers Austin Roma and Cory Platt Jr. Roma was named to the All Big 12 second team at back-to-back seasons at Kansas State. They'll join an established room with inside linebacker Ben Roberts and John Curry at the star position. Both shined last season with Curry starting every game and was all Big 12 honorable mention. Roberts was on the All Big 12 third team and showed out in the Big 12 championship, winning most outstanding player. As far as depth pieces go, Brock goalless is an exciting young player who had 13 tackles in Big 12 play, six coming in Arlington. Adam Hill has also joined the room making a position change from running back. Last year, the linebackers were the backbone to a unit that forced 32 turnovers. What will they be in 2026? >> That's right. Welcome into this week's edition of Red Ritter Recon as we continue on the series of previewing the 2026 Texas Tech football team and season. We go from defensive line to finishing off the front seven as we do the front four last week, the middle three this week. We're gonna do the two linebackers plus outside linebacker in a traditional 4-3 uh Nickelback, strong safety, Rover, star, Jack, whatever you want to call him. John Curry will be included in the guys playing that position. So, it is going to be a complete Sons of Thunder. Next week, we'll do corners and safeties to wrap up the defensive previews, but linebackers this week will be the focal point. Of course, we'll talk about who you're losing. It's one big name and like last week where you lose >> everybody. >> More. >> Yeah, >> you have AJ Holmes coming back. >> You have some guys coming back. You have a transfer in. We'll talk about all that as we come uh up on the road to it. Uh but first, if you're watching, if you're enjoying, if you've liked the show in your heart, go ahead and like it physically with the button. You can also hit subscribe. It helps us. And leave a comment of who you think is going to be the most important linebacker on this football team. You can also give us some predictions as we keep going. And later on, we'll talk about the top three Big 12 linebacking units besides Texas Tech. Give us your options on those as well in the comments section. Every piece of engagement helps and u lets us know you're watching. So, we appreciate you. Go ahead and hit that like button, hit that subscribe button, and we can keep it going. >> Yeah. Let's uh start out with what you're losing. And as you have uh started us out with, I mean, it's it's pretty obvious that you are losing a massive name. Yes. The mustache, the upper lip man, whatever you said. This is the weirdest way to say it. Jacob Rodriguez uh is a oneofone player and not just for you, he was a one-of-one player for the sport. Um that that being said, it's like it's like an on one hand and on the other hand kind of situation because on one hand you're losing a player that should have been I I will die on this hill whenever we are doing Red Raider Recon in 20 years. If I hear his name, I'll still say this. Should have been a Heisman finalist. In any case, just doing things that had never done been done by a defender at Texas Tech, almost sweeping out, I mean, sweeping out the major defensive awards. Um, Big 12 defensive player of the year. Obviously, you would think if you're winning the Buttkiss and the Benic and Lombardi and all of those that you'd have that as well, but first team all-American, drafted in the second round. uh just the ridiculous numbers that he you know he posted last season but also in a career posted ridiculous numbers um I mean but last season was obviously otherworldly so it's like yeah that's going to be ridiculously hard to replace right but at the same time John Curry holds down that star position and gives you some highlights but also is just incredibly consistent uh a nose for the all always around uh the right spot, which you could say this for the entire linebacker group. And then Ben Roberts uh was fantastic. I I mean, you could call it it was a bounceback year, but I label it more he was on a bad defense. And I don't think he got exposed. I think that your good players in 2024 that were on that group struggled at times because everybody struggled around you. >> He was not put in positions to succeed. No. >> The year before and I think he really was last year. He finished so strong. But I think before we move on from Jacob Rodriguez, obviously who you're losing, there's some other names and I think Bryce Ramirez fits into this too. But so often in sports, we we focus on the field, >> right? And you're certainly losing a leader on the field and one of your best playmakers, a turnover machine, a really good open field tackler, the guy lining up other guys on the field. But just off the- field stuff, you're losing from Jacob Rodriguez, too. the practice >> mentality, the the the always hungry mentality, you know, everyone's jumping around and celebrating going into the tunnel after the Big 12 championship game and Jacob Rodriguez is all business. He says, "We're not done coming through." Now, obviously, the offense wasn't as successful, but you saw that carry through. There was no rust on the defense playing Oregon. >> No. >> So, this is a this is a leader. This is an on the- field guy and hopefully he has these replacements trained. Hopefully he has his Ben Roberts trained uh to be a leader and and and John Curry and you've seen him be named Ben Roberts is is named a captain already. So that's just as much to me as his on the- field production is what you're losing as a leader and as a man in the locker room. So it it is a big piece that's gone. But as we're talking about these guys coming back, you you have to think that Ben Roberts, who finished really really strong last year, >> Mhm. >> is prepared to take over on the field, but who's filling that void off the field is is really what I'm I'm thinking about. We won't talk about that much today because we're not over in practice, but somebody >> somebody's going to need to. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a linebacker, but somebody on the defense has to. But but if it if it were to be I mean for for Ben Roberts here's the you know if you believe in seeing an example and saying I want to be like that player not just on the field but who they are as an emotional team leader who they are as the quarterback on the defense. It's not like he was by beside Jacob Rodriguez for one season. I mean he steps in for him his freshman year. So he's getting an uplose and personal look. also what it takes, hey, to come back from from a tough injury. Uh, and then you get it, uh, the example of playing through adversity on said bad defense and shining like Jacob Rodriguez did and battling through that and then what it takes to lead an uber talented defense. Like, he's got three years of different examples all from one player and he certainly has been bought in. So, I mean, if it were to be him also that worked out as that quarterback of the defense, >> I mean, it seems pretty natural. Yeah, >> but I'm obviously like you said, >> we're not over there at practice to know in the locker rooms who's, you know, bringing everybody together and making sure all of these new faces are bought into the Meguire mentality and and you know what what the team wants to be. I mean, you just had your first summer meeting and you have Joey Maguire up there addressing to the team and saying like, "Hey, there's a lot of talent here, but you know, we're going to have to love each other. We're going to have to show on the field like they love playing football." all of the stuff you heard and have heard since Meguire has been here, but especially last year and saw an entire talented defense buy in and be the best defense you've ever seen here at Texas Tech. That passes along to somebody Ben Roberts leading that certainly makes sense. Now, the rest of the guys you're losing off this linebacker unit, I would say special teams guys, certainly a leader in Bryce Ramirez, who wore the number three. >> Yeah, no doubt. But, you know, Trent Low, Gage, Elder, Justin Horn, not really guys getting reps. A lot of it was handled by Rodriguez and Roberts and and Ramirez and some of the other guys coming back. >> Justin Horn was interesting cuz he he never really bounces back right from his 2024 injury. Still a young guy, transfers to Alabama State. His name was only interesting because I understand why he left. And obviously you see that when you're landing at like an Alabama State, not a shot, but that seemed like a guy that maybe was getting some mentions from the coaching staff when he first got here, but you know, wish him the best. Certainly. >> So, let's jump to who you're bringing back. Ben Roberts, we've already talked about him. I mean, he's an established guy. If you're looking at national like top linebacker lists, he's just in about everybody's top 10. Uh you have John Curry coming back who felt like uh you know that's that's another example. It's kind of with Justin Horn of a guy that we've talked about here before that this coaching staff is really good about telling you who your future stars are going to be. And ever since he stepped foot on campus from Coronado just down the way, John Curry was just an easy player for them to mention. And it starts usually with special teams and then a bigger and bigger role. And then you usually see these guys bloom if you're paying attention to like the Easter eggs, if you will, that the coaching staff leaves. That happened a little bit early because it was supposed to be Dingle. >> Mhm. >> And another guy they've talked about quite a bit. Yeah. >> Yes. Athletic freak. and you know hopefully take he is more now in the safety room than he is like I would be curious if there were something to happen like who who would they put in for Curry now would it still be Dingle you know we'll see on like depth start stuff when we get official ones but John Curry didn't just like hold down that spot I thought he shined in his first year as a starter and was like there's a program guy like there there is another building block and a spot that you can trust and say dude run with this for the next couple of years pitch yours. So, that was massive. You also bring back Brock Goolas, who was another guy that's like a a name drop, but then you see him in a in a game where Ben Roberts wins most outstanding player when you win your first Big 12 championship. And he comes in in a game that Roberts also has to miss crucial time and make six tackles. Huge plays. Immediately not. They attacked him. That's what I would have done. Immediately noticeable on that field. was like, "Whoa, hello." >> Yeah. Goas misses the first play >> and you're like, "Oh, great." You know, moment's too big and then he makes like the next six. >> Yeah. >> You're like, "Oh, well, just fine." >> Looks pretty good. >> Yeah. So, that that's good to see. And you you you really do think that he's he's the next up guy. Now, obviously, >> you have uh an added guy that's probably gonna be a starter, but Golos, >> yeah, >> is the next guy up. >> Now, >> true freshman. >> There's some other returners. Uh obviously, you have uh some other guys coming in. We have a little bit of a difference in here. >> Okay. >> I have a guy on my added list and you have him on your returners. >> Ah, yeah. Yeah. So, so he's got he'll be a good transition piece because I >> So, Sorry. Wesley Smith, Chris Lemons, there's some depth pieces, special teams guys are bringing back. >> Uh Adam Hill, >> I put on my returner, >> right? >> But he's making a position switch. Yeah. >> And he played both running back and linebacker and was brought in as that like a utility piece. Hey, we'll see when he gets here. Just a guy that he's just a football player. So, you know, the switch back from running back to linebacker makes sense this year because you have a more full room this year. And also I I think that he is a physical player and a contact player, but also a guy that's athletic enough to fit right in with this linebacker spot. So, uh I get the position switch isn't like overly surprising when you see it, but it is funny. Yeah. >> Yeah. You're bringing him in as a linebacker. >> Yeah. >> And uh prolific running back, but a prolific linebacker, too. Just like another guy you added out of the freshman class. But let's go through the transfers first. Um, doing some research here. There were top 10 lists nationally. >> There were top five lists in the Big 12 that a couple of people have put out. Um, best returners nationally, best returners in the Big 12. You're looking at uh all Big 12 linebackers from last year and who's returning. And there's two names in a lot of those. It's Ben Roberts and it's Austin Roma. >> Yeah. >> Both really highly thought of nationally. Both really highly thought of in the Big 12 world. And certainly here at Texas Tech, Austin Roma, second team, all Big 12 last year. Um, did he regress? Was he injured? Does he bounce back? Is he in a better system? Is he surrounded by better players at Texas Tech? I think all of those are fair questions, but what he get out of the transfer portal and uh he seemed to be a leader over at Kansas State. I I feel like maybe maybe other than Sorsby, I felt like he was the first consensus like Red Raider want when they see that guy like I want that guy. >> And you know he's proven it on the Big 12 level. The numbers like you said weren't quite as good last year but still good enough to end on the all Big 12 second team list and that's backtoback seasons on that same team. But you know that's a Nurserki Benerk buttkiss watch list guy. I think you'll have two of them now. watch lists don't really mean anything if you fall off of them. But still, that's that's national respect. I mean, in his career, 184 tackles, uh has also been fairly good when asked in pass defense at the linebacker spot, can get after the quarterback has forced some. It's just like solid numbers if you just keep going down that there. It's not like mind-blowing, but he has just been >> good to great depending on the season or even depending on the stretch. And I do think that when you're looking now, you're looking at some Kansas State defenses where he might not have been the best player, but was absolutely the best linebacker and was the leader of those defenses for two years. So, that's the type of guy that you're bringing in. Uh, also just a tough football player. I mean, the >> not that you want to see him in a club here at Texas Tech, but >> he just he just gave that old school feel. Uh, and so I I just like his approach to the position. That's the sort of easy addition if you can get him, and obviously you did. >> Uh, that it's not going to be I felt like when he first committed, everyone's like, there's your one for one for Jacob Rodriguez. No one's a spot for spot replacement, but as a group now, you have Curry and Roberts another year older, and you're adding a guy that you don't expect to miss a beat. Who knows, maybe have his best season. >> It would be helpful to Texas Tech. >> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. You also have um Corey Platt coming in and one guy in the returners we did mention and this is just the positional flex that that John Curry is. You know, against most Big 12 teams, John Curry fits really well. Is that role do you need a safety in some of those games more than a linebacker? Because I think John John Curry's more of a linebacker, more of a hard-nosed. He was great in coverage, but >> um is Marcus Ramon Edwards is a guy that's still in the mix there at that position? >> Is he going to be more of a safety? Those are some of the conversations you're going to have. That's that positional flex of doing uh the star position in this position group as opposed to the safety position group. There are a few guys that you mentioned twice. >> Sure. I think Dingle and and Marcus Ron Edwards are are two guys that you might talk about twice uh this weekend and next week, but Cory Platt Jr. is another guy. He's more of the John Curry linebacker role. Is he going to play inside or outside? We'll have to see. you know, Houston, it appeared to me that they moved him around a little bit and and put him in some some different things. And you saw him mostly when he was in coverage taking a linebacker, sometimes a tight end, but you know, I would I would have been interested. I'm glad he's here because one, I I think he's a really good depth piece and he he's dealt with some injuries. He's listed with two years of eligibility left. >> Um, but has you know, spent three years at two lane, spent two years at Houston, get didn't get a play the first year when Shieldwood was still there. So, uh, it's kind of been a long road for him, but, you know, had a great season at two lane. I think there's a reason before he has that injury that Houston was excited to bring him in. I think was a really good piece for them last year, but he's not like this high wasn't this highlight guy. I think it's easy to be excited about him as a depth piece and the kind of what could he be conversation for Cory Platt Jr. who you know again couple years of eligibility but is listed and labeled I would label it anyways as an older experienced player. Um I'm I'm very interested to see how they view him because it seems like to me a guy that you can move around and and maybe be a be a depth piece in a couple different spots and I think you will see him plenty. I think you hear I think you hear the word depth piece and you're like, "Oh, well, so you're just not going to see him in garbage time." No, you're he he was used in high leverage situations at Houston. I think he's another guy here that will be used in the same way as far as situationally, just position-wise, lineup, on the fieldwise. We'll have to wait to see what the staff likes about him. >> Yeah, if you really need a three-game stretch from somebody inside, is it Cory Platt, is it goalless? >> If you really need a three-game stretch from somebody, you know, in the John Curry position, is it Cory Platt? Is it one of these other say? Is it Dangle? Is it, you know, Marcus Rmat Edwards that you have the depth that you're talking about? >> And I would assume Cory Plat Jr. is also going to play a lot of special teams >> if he's not involved uh enough or whatever in the in the defensive edge. >> Yeah. I I also I think he's a guy that his best football is ahead of him now that he's back healthy and rolling. his injury was a torn Achilles and that's just not easy. I I get it that that was a few years ago now, but you know that's just not an easy thing to come back from. And then also where you're trying to progress as a young player and then you have the school move like I I think that there's a lot of talent there. I think there's a lot of athleticism with Cory Platt Jr. It it's kind of like he's going to he's going to get some opportunity. it's going to be hard to get like the starting opportunity, but he's going to get plenty of on the- field opportunities to shine and maybe he's a guy that, you know, we're talking about as a main main piece next year. >> So, it'll be exciting to see what you get out of him. Uh, and then you bring in one freshman, two freshman. Sorry, I had Cord Nolan. I'm missing the second one. >> Well, that's because he's the most prolific rusher in Texas history. He's he he's a four like what 4,000 yard rusher 6,000 yard rusher in his high school career. >> Um but he's going to come play linebacker at at Texas Tech and they have the big speed Oklahoma court Nolan. >> Yeah. >> Um >> yeah, you don't you don't look it's Adam Hill and Keegan Asher are very similar. I mean they're running backs at the high school level also playing linebacker, but you would probably say both of them are running backs at the high school level. That's how they provided most of their uh impact. Especially Keegan Ash. >> Keegan Ash was really pushed whenever you were looking at the ridiculous numbers that he was putting up in high school. Yeah. >> It was the offense recording number. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, he's uh he's the other linebacker coming in. I I my hope is that at linebacker and offensive line and defensive tackle um you know beyond a fivestar coming in that's ready. Mhm. >> You're not going to see a lot of these guys in the first year and there's some red shirt opportunities and maybe you see those guys play early or in the middle if you need them, but the depth is set up in a way that you know in two years you're going to be like, "Oh yeah, Cord Nolan really excited by him." >> I like that. And this is something that they have talked about like with Dingle's a great example coming in as a freshman like just winners and multiport athletes. Well, Cordon Nolan is one of those guys. I mean, he's from Bsby. Uh what's the uh what's the prank caller? Why am I forgetting his name? Do you know what I'm talking about? Um Rody Mercer. >> Yeah, Roy Mercer. That's what I think of with Bixby. He's from Bixby. He's a big boy. Are you a four-time state champ in football winner there also a onetime state champ in baseball. Wrestled like did everything at 6A Bixby. >> Um and is just just one of those seems like a tough guy that you're bringing in that like I said who knows you three star recruit but here in a couple years could be like that's a that's a fan favorite. I think Ash was a state champion hurdler. >> Yeah. >> I think he lost or beat Jacobe Williams as a what is that? Sophomore. Crazy. >> Yeah. Yeah. Couple uh two very different feeling guys. >> Yeah. Uh all right. So we're going to do key stats every week. We're going to do the Big 12 whip around every week. But now it's time to now that we've gone over the uh position group of just the name side, we're going to take a look at last year at what we would love to see this year as a dream game. Worked a second time production two weeks in a row. Uh all right, we kind of went back and forth. I think that there were a handful and you could have said this, we did for the defensive front. >> There was a handful of games that you could really pick from and there wasn't a single one that you were like they sucked. The linebackers were so bad in this game or even like average. They were great. >> Both sides of the ball and special teams, all three sides of the ball. >> Yeah, >> I think this unit was the most consistent last year. >> Yeah. That being said, there were still a handful of games that I thought when you put in the impact plus the talent on the other side, there was some, you know, four or five that you could pick from. What's uh what's this week's dream game? >> Well, you know, I went back and forth on Oregon. >> Mhm. But even with, you know, nearly 30 tackles between the three of them and the plays behind the line of scrimmage and the 13-point deficit late in the game, you just don't want to pick a loss. >> Yeah. >> So, we're trying to go for the wins. There's plenty of wins to look at. I think the the Big 12 championship game was also a real highlight for this unit. Mhm. >> But being that we're focused on the regular season and maybe a game that showed that this linebacker unit was legit, you go a little bit earlier in the season and you pick Utah. >> Yeah. >> 24 tackles as a unit, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a game- clenching interception by Jacob Rodriguez, who he climbed the ladder to go get it. Uh none of their running backs went over 40 yards. They were held 160 yards under their season average was Utah. Utah rushed for 260 yards a game and just dominated a lot of Big 12 teams on the ground. Just couldn't really get it going against Texas Tech. And obviously uh their attempts were a little bit under, but even at 3.2 yards per carry, they averaged six a carry >> on the season. So you really dominated at the point of attack and I think the linebackers are a huge reason for that and obviously that was another game where you're like oh yeah John Curry >> I thought it pretty well >> you know I thought that whenever you look at like well there is a good kind of it's not a breakout game for Jacob Rodriguez but a breakout game on the national scale that like boy this dude's going to be is going to have a special season. He's everything that people in Leick are saying he is. >> But John Curry, that was the the first opportunity and first game like, okay, it's not just because you're beating up on Oregon State or something like, no, he's he's going to compete against the toughest of teams and be a piece that although he's still young that you're not worried of like consistent breakdowns or something like that. And and then you just look at the talent that Utah has. And I mean, I walked away still going like, it was awesome to go in there and dominate them and their offense, but I was walking away like they're going to put up a bunch of yards on people. >> They're they're going to be just fine in the Big 12 in the grand scheme of things. Obviously, you have a leg up on making it to Arlington. I still had a thought like very they very well could meet you back >> in Arlington. You could see them a second time and they were a win away from doing that. But still, you you were looking at that going, if if that's the type of defensive performance and specifically from the linebackers that you're going to get every single year, certainly no one's going to run the ball on you. And that beared out. >> Yeah, that worked out pretty well. >> And all the games you can point to after the other BYU game, the the first one or some of these other ones, it's like, yeah, that's that was what was proven. the point of concept, Houston, um, any of the Big 12, Oklahoma State obviously was, uh, was was dominated, but >> you look back to this Utah game and say that's that's the standard that you want from this linebacker unit, whoever's playing. And against a team that was so physical against the rest of the Big 12, it's exactly what you wanted to see. And so as far as like when we're saying, "Hey, this is a this that that sort of performance would be a dream game this year." Part of it is like approach too because I when you're looking at like the schedule, you don't quite at least in the regular season, you don't quite have a Utah approach or capability at all. At least that's what it seems like right now. Like I would think the closest truly to approach with how you run things offensively might be West Virginia, but are you >> you miss BYU and them both? Yeah. >> And Kansas State for that matter. >> But again, that's just that's just approach offensively and how they want to win games and how they want to score the ball. That's not matching the true >> physicality. Maybe >> I'm trying to say like, okay, Houston, >> they're much better defensively and very tough defensively, but the offense, I don't I don't know what they're going to be this year yet. >> Yeah. So, I mean, part of that is like, are you going to be able to match it just from what you were seeing on the other side? But, >> yeah, it just if you were able to look at a physical and a bully type of team and impose your will from a group of linebackers instead at any of these, >> I think you'll be able to, >> but it just kind of depends on, hey, who's going to who's going to take that specific type of crack at your defense? >> Yeah. Yeah. We'll break down your schedule, too, whenever we get later in the summer. So, we'll get more in the weeds on that. All right, let's jump into some key stats. Time for over, under, maybe match speed round. >> Speed round. Let's do it. >> Linebackers as a group, uh, will they reach 63 solo tackles? >> Yes. >> Uh, will they reach 128 total tackles? >> Yeah, as a group. Uhhuh. >> Will they will they reach four interceptions? >> Say match. Will they reach seven forced fumbles? >> Same match again. Yeah. Didn't they have warned that last year >> as a unit? >> Yeah, that was just Jacob Rodriguez numbers. >> Obviously, they're going to break >> turnover numbers. I mean, if if if the three of them had 11 forced turnovers this year, >> I'd be happy. >> I like leading into that because you're just like, "Yeah, of course they're gonna have they're gonna be over 63 solo tackles." like, yeah, they're of course they're going to be over 128 total tackles. I mean, Ben Roberts might be sniffing that number himself. And you're like, four interceptions. Okay. Yeah. I mean, yeah, certainly doable. Seven force fumbles like and you're like, oh, that's just that's just one guy. Like any way you go back and put that season in perspective, >> just crazy crazy good. But I I do want to focus on the seven forced fumbles. So, you went >> I'd love to match that. And that's a big number. >> I mean, if if Ben Roberts had, you know, five and then three from the other two, you're certainly passing it. Um, four, two, two would be great. Um, and then obviously you want John Curry to to lurk a little bit and Ben Roberts to continue to lurk like he was doing late in the season. Um but yeah, and then how does Austin remain for that? He had an interception or two last year and one against Texas day. >> I think you're going to be over on the interceptions. I would put it as a match for force fumbles cuz something we talked about last week and this is really true with the linebackers like the turnover you is not going anywhere. That that mental approach, that coaching isn't going anywhere. And you saw Ben Roberts. >> Yeah. >> Obviously like like it was there was a couple of plays and this goes for an interception in the Big 12 championship too where >> I thought it was Jacob Rodriguez. >> Yeah. You go back >> oh wait that was Roberts. >> You go back to that Utah game one of the force fumbles. You're like oh wow Jacob Rodriguez just made a great play. Oh no Roberts. >> Yeah. And so I >> I think if you put them together though the turnovers and just said 11 forced turnovers. >> Yeah. >> I'd love to match that with the with the unit. I think they'll surpass. I'd love to match that with the unit because that's that is that that was like singular as far as that position goes force turnovers >> year year round. >> I I agree with the wording >> or I guess with the sentiment would love to match, but I'm I'm just so high on the the linebackers. I'm going to go over. I would take over on 11 turnovers. >> Sure. >> From that group. Uh, all right. Let's go individually. Ben Roberts. Let's go. 105 tackles on the season. Now, this is going back to his freshman year where he jumps in for Rodriguez and then just took over. >> I'll take the over. I think he's I think he's going to have a great year. >> I agree. Uh, how about tackles for loss? Now, last year between your trio of Rodriguez, Curry, and Roberts, you had uh 17 and a half total. I'd go under there. Jacob Rodriguez was elite. >> Mhm. >> Now, he was not asked to do it nearly as much, but shooting gaps and and rushing the passer. Can Austin Roma uh do more of that? Can you stuff some more guys in the hole? I also think Matina Bergba and Trick White and uh Holmes are are going to be patrolling the front just as well as last year. So, I don't know that there's going to be as many opportunities for your two linebackers. >> That's a big piece for me because do I think that all of those guys, all three of the linebackers, I think, you know, and it just depends on like Curry with what what's asked of him. I guess you say the same thing of Roberts, but you would think more would be asked of like, hey, if you see that, jump the run, >> right? Uh, same thing with Roma. But I think a big thing that puts the under for me is what you just said is the defensive line. And last week I sat here talking about I think that your TFLs could be even better from that group. So I will take the under, but I think you're close. I think you're sniffing it. Uh, scoring defense. This is where we went uh with the linebackers. We're kind of doing a team approach for each unit as well. If you were paying attention, we did rushing uh last week. Next week when we talk secondary, we'll probably be doing passing defense. Scoring defense in Big 12 play did this a couple different ways. So 11.8 points per game is what you allowed in the Big 12 match. Over under o >> over. >> Yeah, over for me as well. >> I mean, if I was putting a new number on it and trying to go under, I put it like 18 and a half. >> I still want to be less than 20 by several points. Um, if you could be right at the 17 number, I'd be very happy with this defense. >> Yeah. Yeah, I agree. >> Now, let's go to total yards. So, last year, you held Big 12 teams under 260 yards five times. Over, under, match. Uh, you played nine Big 12 games. >> Mhm. >> You miss a couple of the offenses that I think will be fairly prolific. I think Arizona has a chance to get over 260. I think offensively you're also going to play a little bit of a slower game. Maybe run the ball more. I would say match or over. Let's go crazy. Let's say over. I'm going the other. I'm going under by just just a little bit. Now, to be fair, because you go, okay, well, you played some pretty bad teams. Who were those teams that you did that against? I'm glad you asked. Audience, Oklahoma State is an obvious one. West Virginia, you did that. UCF, especially when you saw UCF. Bad, bad, bad. But then you did it two times against BYU, too, including in the Big 12 championship. So, >> yeah. And I don't think you'll do it against Oklahoma State this year. >> No, I don't. Like, yeah, I I'm I'm looking at this. I don't think you'll do that against Oklahoma State. I don't think you're doing it against Arizona. I don't think you're doing it against Houston. They got over 260 last year. >> Yeah, it was like it was barely it was like it was like 266 or something like that. Um I don't know what Colorado's offense will be. It's like I could see you doing that against them. I don't know what you're getting out of Arizona State quarterback play this year. I could see you doing that against them. I don't know what Cincinnati on the road will be. see you doing against and I'm just doing that with all of those schools and then West Virginia and then Baylor's offense and TCU. But it's it's so fickle as I'm going through it. Yeah. It makes me want to go like take the under. >> And I don't think you know if you have six great six like great games defensively and three of them or two of them were over because you held them at 280 and it wasn't the 26. I'm not going to be like oh you know you're so terri. It's kind of like the It's the same conversation as the points per game. If you were holding teams to Big 12 teams to 17 points per game, I'm going to have a hard time sitting here whining and moaning that you didn't do what you did last year. >> Yeah. >> Because I think that gives you every chance to win, and that's what matters. >> Yeah. >> That being said, I hope you're right. >> All right. Ready for the Big 12 whip around? >> I'm ready. >> Did you want to do the noise again? That was loud. echoed in. All right. Uh, three best linebacker units, not named Texas Tech. I think we went similar, if not three for three on this, which I was shocked, at least before going through all the linebacker rooms. >> I think it's fairly easy to say that BYU and Arizona are the top two >> aside from Texas Tech. Start with BYU when you bring back Glasker and then Arizona with Tay Brown and then I think the groups as a whole are good. But that's just a good starting unit >> and Ulave. >> Yeah, you bring you bring Well, I was say because then you add in >> uh for Arizona productive transfer from Memphis, Chase Kennedy. But BYU added a guy that I think will be in contention for being the best, one of the best, if not the best linebacker in the Big 12. He's your competitor to me to Ben Roberts and to Austin Roma from Cal transfer Kade Ulu. >> So who's your third and I'll give you my third? Cuz I do think it's I think it's Texas Tech, BYU, Arizona, and then somebody else. >> By the way, Tay Brown will be in that for Arizona who I just started. He'll be in that discussion too for individual linebacker. Uh, I went I went back and forth on this and I am usually a production over projection guy. That being said, I think I picked a mix of the two. It's almost like you broke that mic earlier. >> I might have. >> I went Oklahoma State here. It's an interesting pick on on defense because not a lot of people are talking about their defense >> and this is the position that I would do this with with Oklahoma State because one one of the one of the biggest gets like yes like me to maker getting him from North Texas to come with emo to Oklahoma State was massive. Uh to get you know the running back and one of the receivers and some of the offensive line to have some big pieces and continuation with that offense really important. But Ethan Wowski was uber productive with North Texas. And this is where I go. It's a mix between production and projection because his numbers at North Texas were great, but I would understand if you went, okay, but what does that look like in the Big 12 or jumping up a level? I think he's going to be just fine. They also brought in Isaiah Chisum from UCLA, who was another very, very good piece on uh an underwhelming UCLA team. Yeah. But still, I think that that's a guy that when you pair him up with Wesloski, that's a bonafide Big 12 linebacker for and the way that their defense is set up, you know, sometimes you can throw in more names and like obviously let's start with Texas Tech. If you weren't able, depending on how the defense was run, you might not throw in the star position, but John Curry absolutely is throwing with the linebackers. This is really focused on those two guys, but I think that you could do a lot worse, not just in the Big 12, but across college football. Yeah, I think so. I I kind of went with just who's going to be the best defense aside from BYU and Texas Tech. >> Yeah. >> And we talked about the Utah front last week. I think Utah has a conversation to be in the linebacker group, too, but I went Houston. >> That's who I was going back and forth >> with with Yates and Fu. >> I think both those guys have potential. I think Yates is a transfer in, but he had 120 tackles in 24. Mhm. >> is going to have a bounce back, I think, in 2026 and then a returner Fu who had some time last year and and should take a step forward. Um I think a lot of this is just confidence in Willie Fritz that he's put together a solid linebacker room. >> Yeah. >> And a solid defense. Uh, and then obviously you have faith that BYU, even without Jay Hill popping into coming up and and taking over the defense coordinator role, that they won't miss a beat. And then Arizona apparently, >> um, also has some talent, which we didn't expect going into last year, but then they had what, three or four guys drafted out of the secondary, and these linebackers are coming back off a pretty good unit. I think like for for BYU, if you're just going up and down, like here's your kind of I guess sneak peek into future episodes. BYU, it's going to be hard not to have them in most of these position conversations because part of that because you know that's you're coming off of a Big 12 championship appearance, but also when you look at at how much they bring back, >> it's not for nothing. And so the linebackers were a big piece. I I'll be honest, I didn't >> certainly defensively, running back, quarterback. Yeah. >> I didn't realize Glaster was back. >> They also they also lost some linebackers. >> Sure. Jack Kelly. >> So they they are replacing two, but similar to what you're doing at Texas Tech and you're taking some key pieces. You're bringing in a great piece and you're trying to replace your best linebacker. I think arguably Glasker is their best linebacker last year. So obviously Jack Kelly was a huge piece, but he was very good, too. So, >> can I can I throw out just two individual names, too, that I'm interested in >> and I'm gonna ask you a question involving some of these teams. So, Arizona State, I think that they bring in one of the most interesting group of transfers in the Big 12 regardless of position and it just happens to be at linebacker because it's Colorado State's Owen Long. That was your division one tackle leader last year with 151 total tackles. Now you look at the percentage of like solo to total. That's not so great. So it's not like he's just rolling in with we had 151 total tackles on a hundred of them or so like anything like that. So, uh, is that a is that a pile jumper or is that being I mean, it's hard for me to to cuz I saw a little bit of that whenever he committed and I think that's unfair if you're around the ball 151 times. You're just in the right spots, >> right? >> So, but like what are his numbers at Arizona State? Very interested. And then another one like I don't think the room at Kansas is good, but I think Trey Lean is a really really good linebacker, especially when you're looking at a guy who lives in the back field. So, is he good enough to like when we look back or I should say is the is the group around him good enough to go like ah maybe we weren't we weren't giving that room enough credit? I don't think so. I think Lean's really good. I think that room will just be kind of meh as a whole. >> Yeah. Can the Arizona State transfer? Um can he come up a level and perform in the Big 12? I think is a big question. But can he elevate the rest of that defense who's going to see some new faces this year? >> That's another question. >> Yeah. >> Because you're seeing Austin Roma come in power five to power five. You're seeing Cal transfer come in to BYU power five to power five. But you're also placing those on complete defenses. >> Mhm. >> And I don't know that Arizona State has enough returners defensively. I'd really have to go back and look a second time at Arizona State, but it seems like they brought a ton back last year and not quite as much this year. >> I think their front seven personally is going to be just fine. >> Yeah, >> we'll see when we start like talking about the secondary, but I my questions for Arizona State is almost entirely on the offense. I think Kenny Dillingham will always have a good defense. >> Kind of like trusting Willie Fritz. I I think I think Kenny Dillingham's defense, they'll always be Yeah. just solid and then they might have some years where they're outstanding. Like I don't think the defense got enough credit when they won the Big 12 championship. >> They were fantastic that year. >> Very good down the stretch. Uh, so I don't know if that front, you know, I put I put their their front in my top three. The linebackers with, you know, are interesting enough to kind of hang around in that conversation. So, I can't imagine that that'll be a unit that just falls apart. But >> will will there be a group? Can the linebackers hold it together enough where you go, "Okay, they were should have been in the conversation that we talked about them more than what we did." >> I would not be shocked. >> Yeah. >> Are you ready for a fan question of the week? >> So ready. All right. As always, you can drop a fan question of the week on my Twitter, Rob's Twitter, T973's Twitter. Uh you can drop one in the comments if you want to. Uh yeah, really anywhere you can follow T973. Just shout out Red Raider Recon. let us know it's for us and uh we'll answer it. >> That's true. This week, you know, you kind of started the episode with this. Um but we had this question. Who is the best player of the three main linebackers? >> Yeah, I think it's Ben Roberts. >> Yeah, >> I think I think Austin Roma and John Curry are very good. I think Austin Roma is going to have potentially a career year even though he was very good at Kansas State, but just based on what's around him now and what he's going to be asked to do. And I think if you're just talking about position coaches, Shield Wood coaching the inside linebackers is got to be top two, if not one in the Big 12 in the last two years. So I think both those guys are going to take steps this year. But Ben Roberts, how he finished last season and how he started his career, I think, you know, barring any health related problems, Ben Roberts is going to be in the conversation for Big 12 player of the year defensively and for a lot of those national awards that Jacob Rodriguez won last year. I mean, you're looking at a guy that could finish with, and I think if I'm remembering my numbers correctly, more career tackles than arguably your best defender ever, who you just said goodbye to and Jacob Rodriguez. And and so the numbers are certainly there, but I think what he showed last year was the playmaking ability. And I was, it's not that I I was floored that he had it. We just hadn't seen that just quite yet. Again, his sophomore year, I don't think anything should be held against him. He was just not given very much opportunity. He was giving plenty of opportunity to make plays, but usually it's whenever you are running. >> Yeah. Hey, let's let's iso you against the fastest running back in the Big 12 and see if you can keep up for 70 yards. But I I I agree with you. I do have a a dream for John Curry, though. I have almost uh it's a player that you saw this year and went in the draft that because he's the he's the most diverse of the group. He's the most flexible. Dylan from Oregon, if he ends up as a player like how he was talked about whenever you're talking about whatever his career ends up being at Texas Tech, I think is honestly from the start is a good trajectory. >> Yeah. >> If he surpasses like those sort of boy, you can just use him in so many different ways. he can be a linebacker, he can be a safety. I think he showed a lot in pass defense. But, uh, if he continues to progress in that where, you know, you're not having to even remotely have the conversation, it doesn't really matter what kind of offensive package or offensive formation or the number of receivers on the field. You know, if if you're in that where it's a no-brainer to not even bring up, that's my dream for for John Curry. and and I I think he is uh I think he's going to be a fan favorite >> whenever his career is done. Helps being a local kid, but being a local kid that >> is a great player for you on top of it, it's just like cherry on top, right? >> Yeah. >> All right, that's going to do it for the linebackers next week. Secondary. >> So close. Red Raider recon take it through it all. Oh, from the roar in the Jones to the hardwood call. Every big play, every wild night win. Red raider recon. Red recon. That's where you begin. Well, just turn it a little bit toward me. >> Too much. >> Put it back where it was. And then just the panel over here. >> Uh-huh. This one. >> The far the close. Yeah. Just close that off a little bit. >> Yeah. There you go. >> There we go. Perfect. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. when you're not looking at it. >> If I look right at it, it's gonna be like, >> "Yeah, >> I'm just trying to protect your forehead, man." >> Yeah, I know. Thank you. >> That's what I'm wearing. Show notes: Clint and Rob continued their position group break down with the Red Raiders linebacker room. They discussed their confidence in the returning players, plus the proven talent added through the transfer portal. Catch all our updates and editorials at https://Doubletsportsnetwork.com and on our Double T 97.3 mobile app Sign up for our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e57de768188d/sign-up-for-the-double-t-sports-network-newsletter To support the people who make these videos, become a channel member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdboGHVbZA9pKQR4TSib1mw/join