Texas Football: 4 former Longhorns transfers to watch during bye week

Tyler Owens, S (Texas Tech)

Super senior safety Tyler Owens is in his second season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Joey McGuire after transferring from Texas following the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. Owens won a starting safety job for the Red Raiders defense this season after taking rotational snaps on defense last year.

Owens made some big plays for the Texas Tech defense as a rotational safety last season, including two forced fumbles and one interception.

He’s taken a career-high 312 defensive snaps this season over five games as part of an experienced Texas Tech secondary featuring All-Big 12 senior cornerback Malik Dunlap and multi-year starting senior safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson.

While Owens does have a lot of experience in the Big 12, having played in this conference for five years now, he and the rest of this Tech secondary are still adjusting after losing some important pieces on defense during the offseason. Senior defensive back Reggie Pearson Jr., who ranked second in coverage grade and interceptions for the Red Raiders last season, transferred to Oklahoma last offseason.

Texas Tech also lost its sack leader from last season, edge rusher Tyree Wilson.

Owens is also adjusting to being a full-time starter this fall for the first time in his collegiate career.

However, Texas Tech has seemingly started to right the ship after a 1-3 start to the season. The Red Raiders have won two games in a row, including a convincing 39-14 win over Baylor last week. Texas Tech will look to win three games in a row when it takes on the Kansas State Wildcats at home in Lubbock on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. CT.