How Texas Tech football continues to build anticipation for new edge rusher Steve Linton
With the inflammatory stuff Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire said Wednesday at the Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon, other topics covered during the preseason powwow received little attention by comparison.
That was the case nationally, at least. McGuire said something else that made people take notice locally, though.
McGuire mentioned in passing that Steve Linton wreaked havoc in the Red Raiders' closed scrimmage Saturday, stoking more anticipation for the edge rusher who transferred from Syracuse.
"He's an absolute freak. So explosive," McGuire said before a crowd of 1,200 at the Memorial Civic Center. "As good as our offensive line was, he had four sacks the other day in the scrimmage. He's just extremely explosive."
Now, those likely were quick-whistle, touch sacks, the kind where the play is blown dead when a defender gets near the quarterback. Linton will have to finish those plays once the real games start.
The Red Raiders believe he will.
"I've never seen a guy like him," said defensive tackle Tony Bradford, a fifth-year senior. "That's saying a lot, coming from having a year with Tyree Wilson. But they're just completely two different people.
"Tyree was a longer body, but a strong, powerful pass rusher. Steve Linton, you blink your eye, he's done got past an offensive lineman. He's that quick. He's that explosive. I'm excited to see what he can do in this conference."
More: Talking with Tyree: Six topics Red Raiders' first-round pick addressed on draft night
Forecasting the three-deep: What will Texas Tech football depth chart look like for the season opener? Our projection
Wilson, 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, was the No. 7 overall pick in the NFL draft this spring by the Las Vegas Raiders. Linton's a 6-4, 235-pound fifth-year player. He'll play boundary defensive end in Tech's scheme, the position vacated by 2022 starter Jesiah Pierre, who moved to inside linebacker.
In 29 games at Syracuse, Linton was credited with 45 tackles, including 8 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks — modest numbers compiled over four seasons. Tech coaches unabashedly say he's capable of much more.
Why?
"The angle to the quarterback where you can get more sacks," Linton said.
Linton played in a 3-3-5 defense at Syracuse. He said he lined up in a 4i technique, deployed to the inside shoulder of an offensive tackle; in a 3-technique, which lines up to the outside shoulder of an offensive guard; and in a 2i technique, whose stance is to a guard's inside shoulder.
"So I wasn't on the edge that much," he said.
Texas Tech football edge rusher Steve Linton has scouts' attention
His coaches and teammates aren't alone in thinking Linton can be a different player attacking the pocket from outside. NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler ranks him as the No. 8 senior-year edge rusher for the 2024 draft. The Athletic ranks him No. 16 on its list of the top-100 transfer portal additions going into this season.
Once he had his name entered into the transfer portal, Linton visited Tech and Cincinnati, the latter one of the Big 12's four new programs this season.
"I had a lot of schools' (interest)," he said, "but I really narrowed it down in, like, two weeks, because I didn't want to be beating around the bush and telling people I was going to come (visit)."
Linton grew up in Dublin, Georgia, two hours southeast of Atlanta. His favorite player was the late wide receiver Demaryius Thomas who, before he became a four-time Pro Bowl selection, played at Georgia Tech.
"Growing up, I was like, 'I want to go to Georgia Tech. I want to go to Georgia Tech,' " Linton said.
Now he's made it to a different Tech, where the Red Raiders envision a bright future for him.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How Texas Tech football continues to build anticipation for new edge rusher Steve Linton
