Whitlock continues to improve for Red Raider defensive line
Colby Whitlock started the fourth college football game he ever played, felt a light bulb blink on in the sixth and put up some serious numbers in the 11th.
Texas Tech saw him become a first-team freshman all-American last year at defensive tackle, but his coaches want that to be just the tip of the iceberg as far as what’s to come.
College football
• Who: Texas Tech at Nevada
• When: 8:05 p.m. CDT Saturday
• Where: Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nev.
• Records: Tech 1-0, Nevada 1-0
• Last game: Tech 49, Eastern Washington 24; Nevada 49, Grambling State 13
• Last meeting: Never met
• Radio/TV: KKAM 1340 AM/None
• Line: Tech by 101/2
So does Whitlock.
“I feel like I’m leaps and bounds ahead of where I was last year,” said Whitlock, who broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman. “But then again, I know I still have a bunch of room to improve. But as far as knowing the system, what I need to do and my job, I’m really ahead from last year.”
Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said Whitlock played the best of the team’s interior defensive linemen during last week’s season-opening 49-24 win over Eastern Washington.
“I don’t know his stats, but I know he graded well in the game,” McNeill said. “He was steady inside for us. I think the fact we were able to keep those guys fresh – we played a number of people – helped. But on the defensive line, Colby played the best inside; (end) Brandon Williams played the best outside.”
The 6-foot-2, 285-pound sophomore from Noble, Okla., fast-tracked his way into a vital role in 2007 with impressive summer workouts. He was in the starting lineup from the fourth game on last season. He wound up with 47 tackles, second most among the defensive tackles, and 81/2 tackles for loss, which was second on the team.
It was week six that Whitlock felt as if he turned a corner.
“Something about the Iowa State (game), everything just seemed like it came together for me and I understood a bunch,” he said. “I don’t know what it was about that game, but after that game I felt like I understood more what was going on.”
His stats that game – three tackles – were nothing compared to what he did late in the season against Texas, when he made career-high 10 tackles with four of those stops coming in the backfield.
“I remember looking at the depth charts and seeing that their line was pretty much my age or a little bit older,” said Whitlock, who turned 20 last week. “I figured that would work to my advantage.”
Whitlock lines up next to junior Ra’Jon Henley inside, and they tag-teamed for one of the most important plays in January’s Gator Bowl. Henley’s rush and hit on the Virginia quarterback caused a fumble that Whitlock recovered to set up the tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
In last week’s opener, Henley intercepted a pass and Whitlock’s steady play helped the Raiders hold Eastern Washington to 23 rushing yards on 22 attempts.
McNeill said it was a favorable start.
“I expect Colby to not sit on the accolades he had last year and not rely on what he did last year,” McNeill said, “but be better technically and fundamentally and also be a smarter football player. All of that will lead to him making more plays up front for us – and he made a lot for us last year as a true freshman.”
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Thanks for keeping us Lubbock transplants updated about the Red Raiders. We need you to promote a STRONGER radio station down here in San Antonio. We always try to get the Raider games on the radio when not on TV…..not having too much success this year.
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I say “Amen” to that. I am in Amarillo and may as well be in a foreign country as far as radio reception of Tech football. The best I can do is get a Hereford station that is sometimes too weak to pick up. HELP!!
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I live in Houston and was unable to get the EW game on radio so I am with the previous posters. I think it would help the program to enhance the radio network’s effectiveness…and range.
But why am I posting that comment to a newspaper web site that has greatly improved in the past few months….good job guys !!!
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Ditto on the radio reception. I tried every station listed in the program and couldn’t get anything. Since Tech now has several Okies on their team, there are a bunch of fans here in Oklahoma that would love to be able to listen to the games. Maybe Tech can get an Oklahoma station to carry the games.
Thanks for all of the coverage by the paper. I visit this site EVERY day.
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This is great that Whitlock is doing so well. It sounds like Nevada has an amazing rushing game, and we are going to need that amazing defense that we’ve been hearing about. hopefully, our defense will put up some amazing numbers saturday.
On the same note as everyone else. i know what you mean. it sucks not having any games televised, especially when your team is ranked #12. which i dont understand. why cant our game be on espn360.com at least? i guess the Akron at Syracuse, Idaho State at Idaho, Buffalo at Pitt., Maryland at Middle Tennessee, Arkansas at Louisiana-Monroe, and Weber State at Hawaii are all going to be better games than Texas Tech at Nevada. I honestly dont get it. These are two of the best offenses in the country, one of which is ranked, high, and the game isnt televised, on anything, not FSN, ESPN, ABC, cstv, or even the VS channel.
Although i do think the Nevada game will be available to watch on Nevada’s website for $8. But i’m not sure.
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You are correct, the game will be available via webcast through Nevada’s website. Also, it was just announced today that next week’s game against SMU will be broadcast on FSN at 6 PM.
Wreck ‘em Tech!
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RE: MIKE SLAGLE
Houston has radio for all games… either 790, 950, or 740.
Last week and this week are on 950 AM.
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Dittos on the radio reception. We live in the northwest hill country and as soon as the sun goes down, we have spotty radio reception @ best.
We are SOOOOOOO looking forward to a great year this year from the Raiders! Can’t wait to see them againist SMU on FSN. Thanks for the headsup on that!
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I also live in the San Antonio area and have the same complaint about the radio reception. I had to sit in my car the entire game last week and I guess I will do the same tomorrow (unless I can get televised on Nevada website for $8). What really makes me mad is that we had great coverage on KGNB 1420 New Braunfels (where I live) for many years, and they have changed to the Aggies. For that reason alone, I hope the Aggies lose every game this year. Oh wait, I already wished that before this. This just increases my angst towards the Aggies. Go Red Raiders!!!
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