There have been a lot of Red Raiders to make their name in the NFL, but who is the best ever?
There are a lot of Texas Tech stars running around in the NFL right now, most notably Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
But while Mahomes, for the younger generation, put Tech on the map, there were a host of players who paved the way before him.
Given we are in the quiet period for the NFL, this is a time when lists are compiled, and for NFL.com, the publication once upon a time did a top 10 all-time list of Texas Tech players to play in the NFL.
Now, there are a lot of superb candidates to choose from, who could be at the top of this list, such as Wes Welker, Donnie Anderson, Bam Morris, and Michael Crabtree.
But who actually tops NFL.com's list?
As it turns out, Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. ... though obviously the site's work pre-dates the brilliance of Mahomes.
So let's do our own list here ...
10 - Billy Joel Toliver, QB
9 - Michael Crabtree, WR
8 - Bam Morris, RB
7 - Bake Turner, WR
6 - Dave Parks, TE/WR
5 - Donny Anderson, RB
4 - EJ Holub, LB
3 - Wes Welker, WR
2 - Zach Thomas, LB
1 - Patrick Mahomes, QB
We all know about Mahomes' work. Let's dig into thr former No. 1 ...
Drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 1996 NFL Draft, it didn't take Thomas long to establish himself among the NFL's elite.
After just four seasons, he already had two All-Pro nods and eight interceptions. Oh, and he missed just one game in those four years, too. So, he was an Ironman.
But Thomas didn't slow down. He was a menace for offenses to go against.
His next four years of NFL football were just as good as the previous four, as he managed another two All-Pros and two Pro Bowls to be among the most feared linebackers in football.
In those eight seasons, just once did Thomas have under 128 combined tackles (99 in 2000), as once he got his hands on you, the play was as good as over.
He also wasn't a bad blitzer either, racking up 20.5 sacks throughout his career, along with 17 interceptions.
A member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Thomas' resume stacks up with most.
Part of the All-2000 Hall of Fame team, Thomas was a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Not bad for a fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech.
Yes, there could have been other candidates to take the top spot, but Thomas was an ever-present for the Dolphins on defense, playing 184 games across 12 seasons before he retired after the 2008 season with the Dallas Cowboys, aged 35 (still played all 16 games, started 14).
So, as far as the greatest Texas Tech player of all time to play in the NFL? It was Thomas. And now it's Mahomes.
