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Texas Football: Ranking the 5 best defenses the Longhorns face in 2018

By Andrew Miller

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 04: Ty Summers (42) of the TCU Horned Frogs sacks Shane Buechele (7) of the Texas Longhorns in the second half of a football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 04: Ty Summers (42) of the TCU Horned Frogs sacks Shane Buechele (7) of the Texas Longhorns in the second half of a football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Jerrod Heard #13 of the Texas Longhorns leaps over a defender as Kendall Moore #88 blocks Dakota Allen #40 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Jerrod Heard #13 of the Texas Longhorns leaps over a defender as Kendall Moore #88 blocks Dakota Allen #40 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

5. Texas Tech Red Raiders

It is very surprising to find Texas Tech on any list like this, or mentioned with any quality defense in any conference in college football. However, that scrutiny could be about over for the Red Raiders. It’s rare to find Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury relying more on his defense than the offense.

Texas Tech will be led by a pair of senior NFL prospects this year between the former “Last Chance U” star linebacker Dakota Allen and safety Jah’Shawn Johnson. Allen is the returning tackle leader from 2017 and Johnson finished in second in that stat category on the team. Johnson is also a projected first or second round pick for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Last season, Texas Tech actually saw some solid performances out of the defense for the first time in what seems like at least 10 years. The Red Raiders held some high powered offenses like the TCU Horned Frogs, Iowa State Cyclones, and Houston Cougars in check with none of those teams putting up more than 31 points.

Usually, we see the Red Raiders giving up anywhere between 40 and 60 points per game in Big 12 play. This narrative is going to change with an actual emphasis placed on the defense now. Since Texas Tech also held the offense of the Horns in check last year on the way to pulling off a big upset in Austin.

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