Texas
A way too early look at Texas Tech football’s 2025 NFL draft prospects
Tahj Brooks leads Texas Tech football list of 2025 NFL draft prospects
The Doak Walker Award semifinalist’s 290 carries were second-most in the FBS in 2023, and his 1,538 rushing yards were fourth most.
The Texas Tech football program went into NFL draft weekend with one player sure to be selected and a few who profiled with late-round or undrafted free-agent grades.
That’s exactly how it worked out. The Arizona Cardinals drafted safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round, the Jacksonville Jaguars took defensive end Myles Cole in the seventh round and several Red Raiders came to terms on free-agent deals.
It was the eighth year in a row the Red Raiders had no more than two players drafted, and more of the same could be in store next year.
Running back Tahj Brooks looks like a good bet to be drafted in the middle rounds. No other Red Raiders are sure to be selected next year, though, when Green Bay hosts the festivities.
Here is a way-too-early look at the Red Raiders’ 2025 draft prospects, listed alphabetically and not necessarily all-encompassing.
More: Tahj Brooks, 8 others honored with Texas Tech football team awards
More: Cameran Brown earns No. 2 QB status after Texas Tech football spring game
Safety Julien (C.J.) Baskerville
Baskerville’s rangy at 6-3, 215, and Pro Football Focus gave him the highest grades of any Tech defensive player last year overall, as well as for defending the run and for tackling proficiency. He’s dealt with foot, toe, wrist and knee injuries, playing through pain as well as missing seven games the past two years.
By any name: Texas Tech football’s Julien (C.J.) Baskerville was a preemie. That didn’t hold him back in life or sports
Running back Tahj Brooks
Tech 5-10, 230-pound bell cow is coming off a season in which he carried 290 times for 1,538 yards, ranking second and fourth in the FBS. The Doak Walker Award semifinalist decided to stay another year based on feedback from NFL scouts and efforts from the Matador Club collective.
The website NFLDraftBuzz.com ranks Brooks the No. 11 running back for 2025 and the No. 113 overall prospect.
Inside Tahj Brooks’ decision to stay with Texas Tech football in 2024
Offensive lineman Davion Carter
Carter’s short at 6-foot and 295 pounds, but among FBS offensive guards last season, he received the sixth-highest run-blocking grade, the eighth-highest pass-blocking grade and the third best overall grade from Pro Football Focus. That was at Memphis, for whom he made 23 starts before transferring to Tech.
For Texas Tech football team, two offensive line spots generate fierce competition
Tight end Jalin Conyers
The former national top-250 recruit from Gruver spent a year at Oklahoma and three at Arizona State before coming back to West Texas. The 6-4, 265-pound Conyers has plenty of size to block, but he’s at his best as a receiver, catching 68 passes for 784 yards and five touchdowns the past two years.
Texas Tech football welcomes new fleet of tight ends as spring starts
Wide receiver Josh Kelly
Kelly came to Texas Tech after playing four years for his hometown Fresno State and one for Washington State. His 61 catches for 923 yards and eight touchdowns last season were career highs, and he impressed coaches and teammates this spring with his run-after-catch ability.
How Caleb Douglas, Josh Kelly connected with Texas Tech football
Cornerback Bralyn Lux
The Fresno State transfer had the second best overall grade among Big 12 cornerbacks last season by Pro Football Focus, scoring well both in pass coverage and defending the run. He’s undersized at 5-11, 185 and he’ll be under the gun with multi-year starting corners Malik Dunlap and Rayshad Williams completing their eligibility.
Bralyn Lux earns high praise in Texas Tech football’s first practice of the 2023 season
Offensive lineman Caleb Rogers
Pro Football Focus gave Rogers the seventh-best grade of 33 tackles in the Big 12 last season, but he’s moving inside for 2024 based on the recommendation of NFL evaluators. Rogers (6-5, 310) goes into his fifth season with 42 career starts, all at tackle.
Texas Tech football lineman Caleb Rogers sees his future being at center
Offensive guard Vinny Sciury
Sciury (6-4, 295) transferred from Toledo, where he started 33 games in a row at left guard and earned first-team all-Mid-American Conference recognition in 2023 on a team that finished 11-3. He received the 12th highest pass-blocking grade among FBS offensive guards from Pro Football Focus.
Transfer portal additions say Texas Tech football coaches have lived up to promises
Tight end Mason Tharp
There are 133 teams in the FBS, and Pro Football Focus gave Tharp the 11th-best run-blocking grade among all the tight ends last season. At 6-9, 270 pounds, he can move people, and it can take multiple defenders to drag him down after a catch. Health, especially concussions, are a red flag with Tharp having missed nine games the past three seasons.
Bowl berth gives Texas Tech football’s big boys another hunting trip to plan
Texas
A mother says she needs justice after her 18-year-old son was killed
A North Texas family is making a desperate plea for information after an 18-year-old was gunned down in Dallas overnight.
“I don’t know what’s true and what’s not. Every story that I hear what they did to him, it’s horrible,” said Araceli Rodriguez.
Rodriguez and her older son, Jaden Hernandez, say Isaiah left their Fort Worth home yesterday with a new friend. He was headed to a party in Pleasant Grove.
“He would protect everyone,” said Hernandez.
Just before 2 a.m., Dallas Police responded to the home on Masters Drive.
They told Rodriguez that Isaiah was shot multiple times.
He died at Baylor before she arrived.
“I need justice for my son. I need justice. I need to find some kind of closure,” she said.
Police haven’t announced any arrests.
Rodriguez urges those with information to come forward.
It’s not the first time her family’s been rocked by gunfire.
Jaden lost his vision in a shooting in 2024.
“I just hope and pray and wish that these kids find a different way to resolve their issues,” said Rodriguez.
She hopes Isaiah’s story convinces others to put the guns down.
“I want other people to take something from this. I want them to watch who they’re around, watch who their true friends are and just be safe. This is the hardest thing for a parent to go through,” said Rodriguez.
Anyone with information is asked to call Dallas Police.
Texas
3 Texas hospitals receive $2.5M in grants for mobile stroke units
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three hospitals in Texas received a combined $2.5 million in grant funding toward mobile stroke units aimed at increasing access to stroke care.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or reduced.
According to the governor’s office, mobile stroke units were ambulances equipped with CT scanners to help identify strokes and begin treatment faster.
“Timely stroke care can make a life-changing difference for Texans and their families,” HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said.
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin received $1.25 million to establish a new mobile stroke unit.
To expand their existing mobile stroke units, University Medical Center of El Paso was given $500,000, and Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston received $750,000.
“Texas will ensure Texans across our state can access swift and practical medical care,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “This $2.5 million investment into mobile stroke units will enable hospitals to better provide vital care without delay in the event of a stroke. I thank HHSC for their ongoing efforts to support our hospitals and the health of all Texans, no matter where they are.”
Another $2.5 million is expected to be distributed to other hospitals in 2027, according to the governor’s office.
Texas
Joey Volchko spins complete-game gem in 7-1 Georgia win over Texas
Any hopes the Texas Longhorns had of contending in the College World Series took a massive blow on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in a 7-1 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs as right-hander Joey Volchko delivered the best outing of his career, striking out a career-high 15 batters in a complete game for the first Bulldogs win in Omaha since 2008.
Volchko took control early by striking out the first three batters he faced and never faltered, pouring in strikes early in the count and missing bats with the glove-side run on his four-seam fastball and electric slider. Of the 114 pitches thrown by the Stanford transfer, 84 went for strikes as Texas only managed four hits, two by sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who scored the only run for the Horns in the fifth inning. Volchko’s ability to fill up the strike zone resulted in Texas only drawing one walk.
The Horns went 1-for-9 (.111) with runners on and 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position as only one player in the starting lineup, junior first baseman Ashton Larson, avoided a strikeout. Larson went 0-for-3.
As Volchko worked ahead in count, Texas responded by trying to attack the first pitch, a strategy that worked as poorly as attempting to get deep in at bats. After junior right fielder Aiden Robbins worked a full count against Volchko to start the game before striking out, the Horns didn’t get to a three-ball count again until pinch-hitter Josh Livingston in the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs took advantage of early mistakes by the Longhorns as sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis struggled with his command in the first inning, walking the first batter he faced before giving up a line-drive home run off the foul pole in left field by center fielder Rylan Lujo.
Even as Volantis became more effective, it backfired when junior catcher Carson Tinney airmailed a soft throw on a swinging strikeout that allowed Georgia to put a runner on first with one out after Lujo’s homer. A soft single through the right side of the Texas infield increased the pressure on Volantis, who was able to record the second out before hitting a batter and giving up two unearned runs when Tinney made another mistake on a swinging strikeout, missing his throw to first instead of trying to get the runner out at home.
So the Bulldogs took command of the game after the first inning with the benefit of only one hit as Tinney committed his third and fourth errors of the season in an uncharacteristically shaky performance.
Volantis wasn’t always able to work in the zone over the ensuing innings, hitting two more batters, even though he didn’t allow another hit until the seventh when he gave up an RBI double and a two-run single when Georgia scored three unearned runs thanks to an error by junior third baseman Casey Borba.
If the game wasn’t already out of reach for Texas before the seventh, it certainly was afterwards as the top four batters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts, including four by redshirt senior second baseman Temo Becerra.
The Horns also saw junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza depart in the eighth inning with an injury after hitting a single up the middle.
With the season on the line, Texas faces Alabama on Monday at 1 p.m. Central in an elimination game. The Tide lost to the Sooners 9-0 in the early game on Saturday.
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