Texas Tech secured its opening season win in large part to outstanding defensive efforts. Two individual efforts by the Red Raiders garnered Big 12 weekly awards.
Reggie Pearson Jr. was named the conference’s newcomer of the week and “Uncle” Riko Jeffers was recognized as the defensive player of the week.
☝️ game, ✌️ conference awards
These two each got a pick, and now they're picked for the first weekly conference honors of the season! pic.twitter.com/1jwhIhsr8j
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) September 6, 2021
Conference Newcomer
The transfer from Wisconsin shined brightly in his debut. Pearson Jr. finished second on the team with eight tackles. He started the interception party (Texas Tech would collect a total of four) in the 2nd quarter interception of Houston quarterback Clayton Tune. One of Pearson’s eight tackles did force a fumble in the 2nd half, but Houston was able to recover the football.
Defensive Player
Riko Jeffers is going to show up a lot when Houston reviews the film from this game. He recorded four tackles, a sack, and quite possibly the play of the game. With 7:20 left in the 3rd quarter, and momentum shifting towards the Red Raiders. Jeffers picked off Tune on the Houston 13 yard line and sprinted into the endzone for a pick-six. Jeffers’ effort tied the game up at 21, and the defense would remain unrelenting for the rest of the game.
Impact
The two players helped hold Houston to only 251 yards of total offense. The Cougars were held to an average of only 4.6 yards per pass. Texas Tech also held Houston to only 2.2 yards per carry on the ground. Tune completed passes to 10 different receivers, including the running backs. But only three of them had double digits in total receiving yards. So even with the catches, the Red Raiders defensive backs were limiting the yards after catch.
More Big 12 Weekly Awards In The Future?
Texas Tech season continues with the team’s home opener as Matt Wells and company host Stephen F. Austin on September 11. While the Lumberjacks are a stiff opposition from the FCS, there still is great potential for big individual efforts that could result in more Big 12 weekly awards coming to the Red Raiders.
