The Red Raiders' linebacker core is reloaded in 2026.
LUBBOCK - It's not easy filling the shoes of a Heisman Trophy finalist, especially when he was the quarterback of the defense and won practically every national award imaginable, like Texas Tech star Jacob Rodriguez.
"J-Rod" is off to Miami to compete in Dolphins training camp next to fellow Red Raiders alum and 2025 NFL tackles leader Jordyn Brooks.
Back in Lubbock, Joey McGuire has reloaded his linebacker core by bringing back two key contributors and landing a major fish in the transfer portal.
Pro Football Focus agrees, listing Austin Romaine, Ben Roberts, and John Curry at No. 3, 7, and 9, respectively, in its list of the best returning linebackers in college football.
Texas Tech joins Notre Dame as the only schools with multiple players on the top-10 list, and the only program with three.
Romaine Headlines Another Elite Transfer Class
The former Kansas State backer was an All-Big 12 selection a year ago. He's projected as an all-conference linebacker again in 2026, along with Roberts.
Romaine's 91.0 PFF grade since 2024 is the highest among all returning linebackers in college football.
Last season, Romaine - who's appropriately been given the nickname "Lettuce" in Lubbock - suffered a season-ending injury against the Red Raiders last Nov. 1, but still managed to earn second-team All-Big 12 for the second year in a row. He posted 66 tackles (41 solo) and 7.0 tackles for loss.
Romaine, at 240 pounds, will bring an immediate punch in the center of the defense, along with his breadth of experience in the conference.
Texas Tech was ranked by On3 as the fourth-best transfer portal class in the country. Romaine was one of four players with a 4-star rating in the portal.
Roberts Coming Off 'Outstanding' Season
Roberts returns for his senior season after being the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Championship game, a blowout Texas Tech win over BYU that stamped the Red Raiders' ticket into their first College Football Playoff.
The Haslet, Texas native finished second on the team behind Rodriguez in tackles (90) in 2025, en route to earning third-team All-Big 12 honors.
"While Jacob Rodriguez received most of the attention in Texas Tech's linebacker unit, Roberts was outstanding in his own right," PFF wrote. "His 90.5 PFF coverage grade in 2025 led all returning Power Four linebackers, while his four interceptions were tied for the most in the nation. Roberts also ranks as the most valuable returning Power Four linebacker from the 2025 season, according to PFF's wins above average metric."
Curry Can Be 'X-Factor' at STAR
An all-conference honorable mention last season, the home-grown junior enters 2026 for his second season as the STAR, a versatile chess piece for McGuire and coordinator Shiel Wood's defense.
Curry was named a potential X-factor for the No. 11-ranked Red Raiders by ESPN.
"At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Curry has the size of a linebacker but is deployed more like a slot corner. He's able to fill that role because of his rare movement skills, reaching nearly 22 mph, according to player-tracking data," PFF said. "Curry also ranks as the fourth-most valuable returning linebacker from the 2025 season, according to PFF's wins above average metric."
Texas Tech had the nation's leading scoring defense a season ago off a similar three-headed monster in the middle.
With talent, experience and versatility across the board in 2026, the Red Raiders are hoping to ride the nation's top linebacker core to another CFP berth.
