REPORT: Texas Tech players going to the NFL Combine

Fans from all across the nation tune in to watch players from their favorite colleges test in front of executives and scouts from across the NFL, making the NFL Scouting Combine one of the most fascinating events of the offseason each year.

With the program’s general youth and the number of players who chose to return to school because of the N.I.L. opportunities that are now available (players like running Tahj Brooks, for example), the Texas Tech football team of 2023 was light on NFL prospects. However, there will be three players that Red Raider fans should keep an eye on when the combine gets underway later this month.

Texas Tech will be represented at the NFL Combine by Tyler Owens, Myles Cole, and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson.

Texas Tech will be represented by three players at this year’s combine: safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, defensive end Myles Cole, and safety Tyler Owens. Each player will have the opportunity to showcase their skills to NFL decision-makers.

Taylor-Demerson concluded his collegiate career as one of Texas Tech’s most productive defensive backs in recent memory, accumulating 224 tackles and 10 interceptions. Despite initially being a running back recruit from Oklahoma, the 3-star prospect seamlessly transitioned to safety and emerged as a defensive leader for the Red Raiders, appearing in 54 games and starting in two as a true freshman in 2019.

Joining him on the field for much of the season was Tyler Owens, a former transfer from Texas. Owens’ NFL prospects are centered around his exceptional athleticism, standing out as one of the fastest players on the Red Raiders’ roster. However, questions may arise regarding his on-field productivity, as he tallied 69 total tackles and only one interception throughout his collegiate career, including 56 tackles during his time at Texas Tech.

Similarly, defensive end Myles Cole boasts remarkable physical attributes at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, coupled with an impressive wingspan. Despite his imposing stature, Cole’s college statistics are modest, with only 5.0 sacks and 85 total tackles over six seasons, including stints at Louisiana-Monroe before transferring to Texas Tech. While he had the opportunity to start in 2022 and 2023, he struggled to make a significant impact, recording only 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in 12 games last season.

For all three players, the combine presents a crucial opportunity to showcase their talents and potential to NFL scouts and coaches, particularly emphasizing their athletic prowess and ability to compete at the professional level.

The NFL Combine will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from February 26 to March 4. The NFL Network will air it.