Last week, NFL training camp began, and 16 former Texas Tech players reported for action.
The 16 Red Raiders span across 10 different NFL teams with a rookie class of five players and 11 multi-year players.
The rookie class includes offensive lineman Caleb Rogers on the Las Vegas Raiders, running back Tahj Brooks and cornerback Bralyn Lux on the Cincinnati Bengals, tight end Jalin Conyers on the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver Josh Kelly on the Dallas Cowboys.
Of those five, Rogers (3rd round pick) and Brooks (6th round pick) are the only rookies that were selected in the NFL draft.
Rogers is in contention for a starting offensive line spot for the Raiders, and Brooks will likely make the Bengals roster as a backup.
As for the undrafted free agents Lux, Conyers and Kelly, they’ll all be fighting for the right to an NFL roster spot or at the very least a spot on their teams practice squad.
For each rookie, training camp practice and preseason game performance will be crucial as they push to make the roster or move their way up the depth chart.
Now for the Red Raider group of NFL veterans, threetime Super Bowl Champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes II heads into year nine with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Along with him, all starting their sixth year in the league are Terence Steele, offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, Jordyn Brooks, linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and Broderick Washington, defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens.
These veteran players have laid the blueprint of NFL success out for the rookies. Not only Mahomes and his legendary ascent, but the others’ ability to sustain starting roles or even just consistent playing time across many years.
Noteworthily, Steele was an undrafted free agent in 2020 and worked his way to the starting role on the Cowboys, eventually earning a five-year $86.8 million deal.
He’s an example for this year’s UDFA class that they can work their way into difference making roles in the league.
The remaining Red Raiders in the league include defensive lineman Tyree Wilson on the Raiders, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson on the Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma on the Miami Dolphins, punter Austin McNamara on the New York Jets, safety Tyler Owens on the Washington Commanders, and defensive end Myles Cole and cornerback Zech McPhearson on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wilson is slated to start for Las Vegas; McNamara is competing for the Jets starting punter role and Taylor-Demerson should get significant playing time with Arizona.
Cole, Owens, Ezukanma and McPhearson all either played a severely limited role or not at all last season, so similarly to the rookie class, they’ll be trying to parlay a successful training camp and preseason into a bigger role.
As each player competes at or for their respective spot on their NFL teams, they’ll have the local support behind them, cheering them on as they represent Texas Tech at the highest level of football.