Texas Tech kept racking up preseason attention after three of its biggest names were selected to The Sporting News Preseason All-America team.
One of the highest individual honors a college football player can receive is being named a consensus All-American and three Red Raiders took the first step toward the illustrious goal.
During a particularly busy preseason awards cycle for Texas Tech, the program has seen recognition for nearly every award or watchlist that has been released leading up to kickoff.
The Sporting News rolled out its 2026 Preseason All-America team and the program made yet another appearance on the list.
In fact, Texas Tech had three of its top names adorn the prestigious lineup.
Much like the team itself, senior defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr. has had quite the time in the spotlight ahead of his final outing.
Holmes was labelled the preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 and has garnered attention for various national awards. And he can add yet another after being chosen to join the publication's All-America second team.
Alongside Holmes on the second team was another defensive standout in senior linebacker Ben Roberts. Roberts enters the year as the reigning Big 12 Championship MVP and is viewed as the answer to the large gap left by Jacob Rodriguez.
He will be joined by stellar counterparts Austin Romaine and John Curry in the linebacker corps, but Roberts has been labelled the leader and the All-American nod only boosts those expectations.
Finally, the lone Red Raider from the offense and only one to make TSN's preseason first team was none other than tight end Terrance Carter Jr. Carter was one of the most reliable targets in the nation last season in his debut with Texas Tech.
Now in his final year, Carter looks to repeat that success with a new quarterback in Will Hammond, with their potential connection serving as one of the most pivotal in the nation.
While it is only the preseason team, TSN is one of the five official selectors that go toward a consensus All-American title at the end of the year. And it has been a solid indicator for success in recent memory for Texas Tech.
Last year, Rodriguez and edge rusher David Bailey both made its preseason team and then later went on to capture not only another honor from TSN but the consensus All-American title.
The pair became only the sixth and seventh Red Raiders to be honored as consensus All-Americans in program history.
With the skills to live up to these preseason expectations, Texas Tech could easily grow that number to 10 by the time all is said and done this season.
