Texas Tech sends record eight Red Raiders to 2026 NFL Combine

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are among the most-represented programs at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, with a program-record eight players earning invites to Indianapolis from February 23 to March 2.

Texas Tech’s 2025 season was one for the history books, culminating in the program’s first-ever Big 12 Championship, a dominant defensive performance, and one of the strongest overall campaigns in recent memory. That success helped thrust several Red Raiders into national draft conversations, and now scouts will get an early look at their athleticism and measurements at the combine.

Meet the 8 Red Raiders invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine

This year’s eight invites mark the most Texas Tech has ever had in a single combine, surpassing previous totals, including the 2009 group that featured stars like Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell.

Here are the Texas Tech players invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine:

Offense

• Behren Morton, Quarterback: The Red Raiders’ signal-caller was a key leader in 2025, throwing for nearly 2,800 yards with a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio and helping guide Tech to big wins throughout the season.
• Caleb Douglas, Wide Receiver: A former transfer who became a top playmaker, Douglas finished among the team leaders in receptions and yards and grabbed attention with his big-play ability.
• Reggie Virgil, Wide Receiver: Another offensive standout, Virgil brought explosiveness both in the passing game and as a dynamic threat after the catch during his 2025 campaign.

Defense

• David Bailey, Defensive Lineman: Bailey burst onto the scene with a team-leading sack total and earned AP All-America First Team honors along with Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
• Skyler Gill-Howard, Defensive Lineman: Despite a season limited by injury, Gill-Howard showed playmaking instincts and versatility as part of one of college football’s toughest defensive fronts.
• Romello Height, Defensive Lineman: A disruptive force with double-digit sacks, Height was crucial to Texas Tech’s pass rush and earned top-tier conference honors.
• Lee Hunter, Defensive Lineman: A strong run defender and interior presence, Hunter helped anchor a unit that ranked among the best in the nation in 2025.
• Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker: A standout off-the-linebacker spot, Rodriguez set career highs in tackles and led the nation in forced fumbles, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, a rare feat for a defensive player.

Texas Tech’s defensive identity in 2025 was one of the most dominant in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Red Raiders led the nation in rushing defense and ranked third in scoring defense.

That strength translated into multiple draft-eligible defenders catching NFL attention, reflected by five of the eight invitees coming from the defensive front seven.

From an offensive perspective, Morton and his top receiving weapons demonstrated enough versatility and production to earn combine invites despite a league-wide emphasis on quarterback and receiver athletic traits.

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine provides these Red Raiders with a platform to improve their draft stock through measurable drills (40-yard dash, agility testing, etc.), position workouts, and interviews with NFL teams. Performances in Indianapolis, and later at Texas Tech’s Pro Day, could move several of these prospects into early draft conversations.

Texas Tech’s eight combine invitees reflect both the team’s success in 2025 and its growing reputation as a producer of NFL talent. With youth programs around college football emphasizing professional pathways, the Red Raiders’ presence in Indianapolis emphasizes a program on the rise.

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