Texas Tech football watchers waited eight months to see what Trey White would bring to the Red Raiders’ pass rush. Then they waited two weeks more after the transfer from San Diego State hurt late in fall camp.
White made his Tech debut on Friday, Sept. 18, getting credit for two tackles and a sack in the Red Raiders’ 28-26 victory against Houston at Galaxy Stadium. White, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound edge defender has been dealing with a knee injury and revealed Tuesday, Sept. 22, that he actually had surgery three weeks ago.
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“I feel great,” he said, “good enough to be back on the field playing again, feeling pretty much like myself. And then once I’m able to get this brace off my leg, I’m good.”
More: What was up with that first play?— Texas Tech football Q&A
No. 10 Tech (3-0) hosts Sam Houston State (1-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.
White, a fifth-year senior, had a combined 19 1/2 sacks the past two years for San Diego State, earning first-team all-Mountain West Conference recognition both seasons. So the Red Raiders were eager to see him as much as he was he was eager to see his new environment.
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Briefly, that was put on hold.
“Mike [Ramirez} and the training staff did a great job in preparing me,” White said, “and getting me used to being back out there on the field before I suited up, making sure I was comfortable out there. Just being in that stadium with all the fans and my parents’ first time seeing me play ever at the Galaxy Stadium, it was insane for them.”
Texas Tech’s Trey White looks on during spring football practice, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Womble Football Center.
White’s Tech debut was one of a few firsts in the Tech-Houston game. Safety Brenden Jordan made his season debut after missing the first two games for a team rules violation. Also, edge defender Jamond Mathis and cornerback Davin Martin made their first starts for Tech after transferring from Kent State and UT-San Antonio, respectively.
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Martin’s a 6-2, 185-pound senior from Klein Cain, and his first extended action happened to come against his hometown team.
“It was fun, especially when I got the start,” he said. “On that team, I know a lot of those guys and those coaches, so it was fun. It was a physical game. I looked forward to it, and I’m glad we won.”
Martin was in on four tackles and broke up two passes. He was among the 21 newcomers who joined the Red Raiders in January from the NCAA transfer portal.
How has his game developed since?
“A lot, man,” Martin said, “with my strength and my conditioning and my weight gain, just to how I play. I’m more physical now. Formation recognition, I can recognize formations and get one small, minor detail and I’ll be able to play a little faster. Playing around other great players as well, it makes my job easier and it’s more fun.”
Davin Martin goes through a drill before the Texas Tech football team’s spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Jordan’s one of the seasoned veterans on the Tech defense. The senior from Mansfield’s streak of 15 consecutive starts ended with his having to sit the first two games. He picked up where he left off. Jordan and linebacker Ben Roberts were credited with a team-high 10 tackles apiece against Houston, Jordan’s total including a team-high 8 solos.
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“I think I did well,” Jordan said. “I played hard. One of my main goals was just to go out there and play fast, play hard. So I think I did pretty good.”
All off-season, Tech expected Jordan to anchor the secondary, starting at safety alongside juniors Peyton Morgan, Malik Esquerra or Oliver Miles III, all first-time starting candidates. Esquerra’s started all three games at boundary safety, taking over the spot Cole Wisniewski manned last year. Jordan opened last week at field safety, where he played last season and where Morgan started the first two games.
While sitting those first two weeks, Jordan said he made the best of the situation.
“I was excited to watch them, honestly, seeing my team play,” Jordan said. “It was frustrating a little bit, actually, but it wasn’t bad at all. Seeing my guys play, supporting them all I could do and just helping the young guys to get better.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How Texas Tech football first-time starters handled the spotlight
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
