LATEST: Texas Tech players and coach for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl

Even though the college football season is finished, one of the most important dates in the calendar for college football is drawing near. Two Red Raiders will be competing in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will be held in Mobile, Alabama on February 3rd. The event provides athletes from all over the country with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills for NFL evaluators.

Which Texas Tech football players are eligible to participate in the Senior Bowl?

Austin McNamara, a punter for Texas Tech, and Myles Cole, a defensive end, will participate in the Senior Bowl this year. It’s noteworthy to note that the former hopes his success in college will open doors for him, while the latter needs teams to recognize his athletic ability.

McNamara has consistently been one of the top punters in the nation since joining Texas Tech, maintaining a high level of performance. In the recent season, he achieved an average of 46.3 yards per punt, which tied for the second-best average of his career. Honored as the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023, McNamara also received three first-team All-Big 12 recognitions. While his draft status remains uncertain, his impressive performance with the Red Raiders ensures he will have an opportunity to showcase his kicking skills at the professional level.

On the other hand, Cole’s football career hasn’t reached the same heights as McNamara’s. Accumulating only 5.0 career sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, he recorded a modest 32 tackles in the most recent season. However, despite these numbers, Cole stands out as an athletic marvel. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 266 pounds, he possesses a longer wingspan than Tyree Wilson, a 2023 first-round draft pick and former Texas Tech defensive end selected seventh overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the previous year’s draft.

Cole will have the opportunity to practice and play against elite collegiate players in front of NFL scouts and coaches during the Senior Bowl week, which might be critical for his hopes of earning an NFL opportunity. Perhaps there, his physical gifts will be more apparent than they were at Texas Tech.

Who is coaching at the Reese’s Senior Bowl?

Terrell Williams, the defensive line coach and associate head coach of the Titans, will lead the American team at the 75th Reese’s Senior Bowl this year. Troy Brown, the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, Ephraim Banda, the defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, and Mike Adams, the special teams coordinator and assistant special teams coach for the New York Giants, will be among his staff members.

Jeff Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, will lead the National Team. Daronte Jones, the defensive coordinator and offensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings, and Shea Tierney, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants, will support him. and Phil Galiano, the assistant special teams coach for the New Orleans Saints, who serves as coordinator of special teams.