The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the 2026 season carrying legitimate Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff expectations, and ESPN's preseason All-America teams offered another reminder of just how much high-end talent Joey McGuire has on this roster.
Four Texas Tech players earned recognition, led by tight end Terrence Carter Jr. and cornerback Brice Pollock, who both landed on the first team.
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Running back J'Koby Williams and defensive tackle A.J. Holmes Jr. were second-team selections, with Williams honored as an all-purpose player.
Carter immediately became one of Texas Tech's most reliable offensive weapons in his first season in Lubbock, finishing 2025 with 55 receptions for 624 yards and five touchdowns.
His combination of size, hands and ability to create mismatches gives the Red Raiders a major weapon in the middle of the field.
Pollock could be even more important. Despite dealing with injuries last season, the veteran corner still produced 48 tackles and five interceptions, establishing himself as one of the most disruptive defensive backs in the Big 12.
He's also on the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football's top defensive back.
Then there's Williams, who might be Texas Tech's most dangerous chess piece. He rushed for 868 yards and six touchdowns on 155 carries last season while adding 388 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
That versatility makes him far more than a traditional running back. Texas Tech can move him around the formation, create mismatches and force defenses to account for him on virtually every snap.
Holmes brings the muscle up front. Named the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, he enters 2026 as the centerpiece of a rebuilt defensive line after recording 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures last season.
Put it all together and Texas Tech has something contenders desperately need: impact players at premium positions on both sides of the ball.
The Red Raiders aren't simply trying to defend their Big 12 crown. They're trying to prove last season's playoff run was the beginning of something bigger.
Texas Tech opens the season Sept. 5 against Abilene Christian at Galaxy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on FS1.
MORE: Texas Tech Lands Top-10 Preseason Ranking as Big 12 Favorite
By then, the preseason praise won't matter anymore.
But four ESPN All-America selections make one thing clear: the talent in Lubbock is very real.
