Pollock and Roberts headline a loaded Texas Tech defense, aiming for conference dominance and national award recognition with their game-changing talent.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are coming off their most successful season since Mike Leach was launching the Air Raid offense all over Lubbock back in 2008.
With 12 wins and the 2025 Big 12 title safely displayed in their trophy case, the Red Raiders are loaded with talent once again and look to dominate the conference in 2026.
Two players on the defensive side of the ball are poised for even bigger and better seasons as they return with their talent and experience to lead Texas Tech to the summit of the Big 12 hierarchy: linebacker Ben Robert and cornerback Brice Pollock.
Both are certain to be on national award watch lists when they come out in late summer.
Brice Pollock
Pollock was a thief extraordinaire last season, logging five interceptions, which tied for the Big 12 lead. He also recorded 48 tackles, four tackles for loss and six pass breakups.
Pollock posted a season-high two interceptions, along with six tackles, in a 43-14 win over Oregon State. In a collegiate career that began at Mississippi State, Pollock has posted 120 tackles, six interceptions and 16 pass breakups. For his performance, Pollock earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.
After his standout performance last season, Pollock ranked No. 94 among the top 101 players in college football, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). In passer rating allowed, PFF graded Pollock at 35.7, which ranked fourth among all cornerbacks.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Pollock is sure to be a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football. The first Thorpe Award was given out in 1986, and no Texas Tech player has ever won the coveted prize. Pollock will be looking to change that.
Ben Roberts
Often overlooked because of the season that fellow linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had in 2025, Roberts is just as talented and productive. Roberts racked up 90 tackles for the Red Raiders, second-most on the team.
The senior-to-be also picked off four passes, recorded four tackles for loss, six pass breakups and forced two fumbles on his way to being selected third-team All-Big 12.
Against BYU in the conference championship game, Roberts intercepted two Bear Bachmeier passes and earned a coverage grade of 96.0, according to PFF. He also earned an overall grade of 94.8, which was the best among all defenders playing during the conference championship.
Roberts posted two games of double-digit tackles, including 16 total stops in the shutout loss to Oregon in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. He also added an interception and a tackle for loss against the Ducks.
Emerging from the large shadow cast by the dominating play of Rodriguez, Roberts is ready to take over the leadership role of the Texas Tech defense.
Roberts is tough and competitive and knows how to play the position. Which is why Roberts could (and should) be a candidate for the 2026 Butkus Award, given to college football’s top linebacker.
Not bad for a young man who had a zero-star rating coming out of high school. According to PFF, Roberts ranked No. 57 among the top 101 college football players of 2025.
For connoisseurs of college football, fans will be flocking to Lubbock, Texas, in the fall to watch Roberts and Pollock take their next step toward gridiron greatness.