Houston LB Corey Platt Jr. bolsters Texas Tech's defense, bringing veteran experience to a unit aiming for continued dominance.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are coming off an historic season on the gridiron, winning the Big 12 championship and finishing with a 12-2 record on the strength of a dominant defense.
Great defenders like Jacob Rodriguez, David Bailey, Lee Hunter and Romello Height were the backbone of a defense that was one of the best in college football and led the conference in six different categories: total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks, tackles for loss and opponents third down conversions.
Those players have moved on, but others will return to continue that legacy of dominance. Linebackers Ben Roberts and John Curry will be prowling from sideline-to-sideline next season after racking up 162 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles between them.
Defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. is also back after posting 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, forced a fumble and returned a fumble. Cornerback Brice Pollock also returns after being tied for the conference lead with five interceptions.
With three days left before the transfer portal closes, coach Joey McGuire went out and found a talented linebacker to help ease the pain of losing Rodriguez and Bailey. Houston linebacker Corey Platt Jr. committed to Texas Tech on Tuesday.
An experienced player who can provide depth at the position, Platt posted 41 tackles for the Cougars. He also recorded five tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble.
Platt had a season-high six tackles against Oklahoma State. Against UCF, Platt recorded five tackles and two tackles for loss.
For his career, Platt has 82 tackles to his credit after playing for the Cougars and also Tulane.
Platt will join fellow transfer Austin Romaine (Kansas State) in what will be a talented and productive linebacker corps, led by Roberts and Curry. Romaine was second-team All-Big 12 last season.
Forcing turnovers was a specialty of this defense. The Red Raiders were plus 14 in turnover margin last season. They forced at least one turnover in eight games, including three against Kansas State and seven in two meetings against BYU. Roberts, Curry, Holmes and Platt each registered forced fumbles last season. In pass defense, Roberts added four interceptions.
After losing Rodriguez and Bailey, it will be a new era on the defensive side of the ball for the Red Raiders. McGuire has found players like Platt that are the right fit for the culture and the scheme they employ. The 2026 defense could be just as dominant and ready to wreck their opponents.