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Can David Bailey, Texas Tech football defense flex its muscle against Utah's offense?
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- Can David Bailey, Texas Tech football defense flex its muscle against Utah's offense?
David Bailey is familiar with what it's like to be an opposing player inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The Irvine, California, native made his first trek there as a freshman with Stanford, then still aligned with the Utah Utes in the former version of the Pac-12.
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"I remember those fans," Bailey said, "the things they were saying to us."
Back then, Bailey was starting to make a name for himself with the Cardinal, one that's become prominent in NFL Draft circles. That's part of the draw that made the Texas Tech football team covet him out of the transfer portal this spring , the final piece to what Joey McGuire expects to be an elite unit.
So far, Bailey and his cohorts have lived up to the hype. Despite not having played a full game together, Tech's starting defense has yet to surrender a touchdown. The group as a whole ranks second in the nation in yards per carry allowed (1.5) and rushing yards allowed per game (41.3). Each of those will be put to the ultimate test against a Utah team averaging 290 yards per game on the ground.
"There's going to be a lot of strength versus strength," McGuire said Monday, "and it's going to come down to who executes and who makes the least amount of mistakes, and really kind of who wants to be the toughest team."
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New Mexico transfer quarterback Devon Dampier is the engine of the Utes offense. Possessing an ability to beat teams with his legs and arm, Dampier leads the team with 198 rushing yards and has completed 73% of his passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. Washington State transfer Wayshawn Parker (192 yards) and NaQuari Rogers (152 yards, 4 TDs) have added to a three-headed rushing monster for Kyle Whittingham's team.
Texas Tech's David Bailey defends a pass against Kent State during a non-conference football game, Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Containing Dampier is key for the Red Raiders , something Bailey understands. While the focus on the rushing game starts with integrity in the gaps and rush lanes, Texas Tech's defensive players also have to trust their eyes and not be deceived when Dampier starts to scramble.
"I know they do a lot of misdirection," Bailey said of Utah's offense, "so just focusing on what the coaches are telling us to focus on. And then I trust that the other 10 is going to do their job."
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Bailey said this defensive unit is the best he's been a part of. Opposite Bailey on the outside is Georgia Tech transfer Romello Height, while defensive tackles Lee Hunter (UCF) and Skyler Gill-Howard (Northern Illinois) have clogged up the middle. The four starters have developed chemistry thus far, though that also can be put to the test this week.
Utah features a pair of offensive tackles — Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu — who, like Bailey, have generated plenty of buzz in the NFL Draft scene. McGuire said previously he expects more NFL scouts and general managers at this week's game "than we've ever seen because of the o-line and d-line that's going against each other."
As if the Big 12 Conference opener with Big Noon Kickoff on national TV to prove supremacy in the league wasn't enough. The added attention from the pro ranks could be considered a distraction, or amplification of the Red Raiders' first trip outside of Lubbock this season.
Texas Tech's David Bailey rushes the Kent State offense during a non-conference football game, Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Bailey, though, doesn't see it that way. He just wants to show what he's capable of, playing multiple positions throughout the game — perhaps even some special teams — and help get Texas Tech the victory. It's worked the first three games of the season, so no need to change the methodology now.
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"I think the most important thing is the effort that we're playing with across the board," Bailey said of the defense. "I just want to keep that up and just keep building up the team chemistry, obviously perfecting our playbook and controlling the things that we can control."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: David Bailey, Texas Tech football defense trying to stop Utah offense
