Five Texas Tech standouts to know ahead of quarterfinals vs. Oregon

In the new age of college football, there are a variety of different ways to build a roster. Among them is the traditional way of simply signing high school recruits and developing them until they're ready to produce on the field. Another that has risen in popularity in recent years is adding established and accomplished players through the transfer portal who can step on the field from Day 1 and produce.

As all good teams do, such as how the Oregon Ducks have constructed their roster in recent years, the best way is to use both methods.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders, the Ducks' opponent in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, have done exactly that, developing a number of offensive stars while luring defensive stars to Lubbock through lucrative NIL deals.

And it's worked, elevating the Red Raiders from eight wins in 2024 to a 12-1 record this season, including claiming the Big 12 championship and earning a first-round bye in the CFP.

With Oregon set to battle with Texas Tech, here's five Red Raiders that Duck fans should know heading into the quarterfinals bout.

QB Behren Morton

Behren Morton doesn't have the biggest arm and is far from a dual-threat with negative -81 rush yards this season, but he does enough to fuel this Red Raiders offense with the way that he distributes the ball accurately. He's a sound decision-maker, throwing just four interceptions versus 22 touchdowns. His experience has done him well, as Morton has been at Texas Tech for five years and started the majority of the last three seasons.

RB Cameron Dickey

Just a true sophomore, Cameron Dickey has burst onto the scene this season, emerging as the team's No. 1 back after seeing little time a season ago as Tajh Brooks received a lion-share of the carries. But with Brooks moving on to the NFL, Dickey has stepped in and ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, being named a first-team All-Big 12 selection. At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, he's is a bruising runner, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Dickey and J'Koby Williams, who brings the speed, form arguably the best 1-2 running back duo in the country.

LB Jacob Rodriguez

Jacob Rodriguez is everything that you'd want in a linebacker, as he's fearless, instinctual and a fierce competitor and leader. Coming into college as a quarterback at Virginia, Rodriguez transferred to Texas Tech and has had to scratch and claw for everything in his five-year career, turning himself into one of the best players in the country, period. He's always around the ball and literally goes after it before making the tackle, leading the nation with seven forced fumbles while picking off four passes. Rodriguez is the Red Raiders' top player and garnered Heisman buzz late in the season for his standout play.

EDGE David Bailey

The second-leading sacker in the nation with 13.5 quarterback takedowns, David Bailey is as good as it gets coming off the edge at the college level. He's amongst several highly-paid transfers on the defensive side, as Bailey had 14.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles in three seasons at Stanford before joining the Red Raiders. He has a good frame at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds and has an explosive first step combined with deceptive strength, having the ability to turn the corner on offensive tackles or bull right through them. The term "game-wrecker" fits Bailey, as offenses have to account for wherever he lines up.

EDGE Romello Height

The Robin to Bailey's Batman, Romello Height is tied for 16th in the nation in sacks with nine including a pair of forced fumbles. While he has a slighter frame than Bailey at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, his athleticism and speed is top notch. He does struggle at times against the run due to his lack of heft and can't necessarily bull through offensive tackles, but his speed has clearly allowed him to be extremely successful at rushing the passer. Height is another highly-paid transfer, as he joins Texas Tech after stops at Auburn, USC and Georgia Tech.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five Red Raiders to know ahead of CFP quarterfinals bout with Oregon