Texas Tech football is no stranger to big swings — but what the Red Raiders just pulled off with their defensive line might be one of the boldest moves of the Joey McGuire era yet.
Instead of spending years developing freshmen into frontline defenders, Texas Tech went straight to the transfer portal and walked out with what’s now being called a top-3 defensive line in the country. That’s right — top three, alongside juggernauts like Georgia and Michigan.
🧱 The New-Look Wall Up Front
So, who are these new defensive beasts wearing the scarlet and black?
Lee Hunter – The massive former Auburn tackle (via UCF) who eats up double teams and crushes gaps like a bulldozer.
David Bailey – A former Stanford pass-rushing machine, Bailey brings 9.5 sacks of pure edge chaos to Lubbock.
Romello Height – Previously at USC, Height adds speed and coverage flexibility as a hybrid end/linebacker.
Skyler Gill-Howard – A Marshall breakout who plays with fire on every snap and racked up 6.5 sacks in 2024.
Add in returning veterans like Jaylon Hutchings and emerging talents like Tre’Jahn King, and this group is suddenly the strength of the team.
🔄 The Portal Playbook
Let’s be real — McGuire and his staff aren’t just recruiting. They’re strategically hunting.
Instead of rolling the dice on long-term projects, they’ve gone all-in on college-ready talent who’ve already proven themselves in the trenches. And they’re doing it at a time when roster experience matters more than ever.
“The portal gave us a chance to get older, stronger, and faster — overnight,”
— DC Tim DeRuyter
It’s not about skipping development. It’s about winning now. And Tech is proving it’s possible to build a top-tier unit with the right mix of eyes, strategy, and resources.
💰 Yes, NIL Helped — And They’re Not Apologizing
Critics are crying foul. But let’s be honest — every major program is playing the NIL game, and Texas Tech isn’t just participating. They’re dominating.
With help from their booster-driven NIL collective, Matador Club, Tech was able to offer competitive packages — sometimes six figures — to bring in these high-impact players.
Coach McGuire’s response to the noise?
“They’re complaining because we’ve decided to do it at a really high level.”
🚀 What It Means for 2025
If the hype is real — and this D-line lives up to expectations — Texas Tech could have the most disruptive front seven in the Big 12. Pair that with QB Behren Morton and an electric offense, and the Red Raiders aren’t just aiming for a bowl. They’re gunning for a title.
Don’t sleep on Lubbock this year.
