Defensive line hasn't been a strength at Texas Tech, but defensive tackle Gabe Rivera was probably the most talented football player ever to come through the Red Raiders program.
Texas Tech's greatest defensive line was undoubtedly the 2025 unit. And in Lee Hunter and David Bailey, it featured two of the most talented linemen ever to come through the program. Hunter was a second-round pick and Bailey went number two overall, easily the earliest selection by a Red Raider defensive lineman. However, Hunter, Bailey and Romello Height--a fourth-round pick--played only a single season in Lubbock and that's why they're not on this list of all-time Texas Tech greats. With the exception of Tyree Wilson who played three seasons, all of these guys played a full four years for Texas Tech. And I set great store by loyalty and longevity.
No. 1 Gabriel Rivera (1979-82): People who never saw Senor Sack play just can't imagine what an elemental force he was. Indeed, I'm by no means certain that Gabe Rivera wasn't the most talented football player in Texas Tech history. He was 6-foot-2, 295, strong as an ox, and ran a 4.8 forty as a noseguard. In fact, I believe his football speed was even better than his official speed. There is a video of him running across the field and without the advantage of an angle, tracking down and body slamming Arkansas quarterback Tom Jones. It is simultaneously slightly humorous and a bit unnerving watching a man that size move that fast. Rivera, of course, was a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers who envisioned him as the replacement for Mean Joe Green. And, had he need been paralyzed in a drunk driving accident in his rookie year, Rivera may have been every bit as good as Mean Joe. It's a tragedy that nobody will ever know.
No. 2 Montae Reagor (1995-98): Montae Reagor of Waxahachie was one of the top high school prospects in Texas when he signed with Spike Dykes and Texas Tech in 1995. He absolutely lived up to his billing, too. Reagor started 41 of 44 possible games at Texas Tech including his first one on the road against defending national champ Penn State. On the Nittany Lions' second offensive series they attempted to run a reverse deep in their own territory. Reagor, however, burst through the line, blew up the play at the mesh point and caused a fumble that was recovered by Shawn Banks in the end zone to give the Red Raiders a 6-0 lead. And Reagor only improved from that point earning consensus All-America honors as a senior. He also had a very good NFL career starting 46 games, recording 29 tackles for loss and 17 sacks and winning a Super Bowl with the Colts.
No. 3 Ecomet Burley (1972-75): Ecomet Burley was a miniature version of Gabe Rivera. He played in the interior of the defensive line at 5-foot-10, 240, which was small even by 1970s standards. But he was incredibly stout and played extremely hard. Burley was a fixture in Texas Tech's defensive line his entire career and put up linebacker numbers as a defensive tackle. As a sophomore he recorded 102 tackles and as a junior rang up 124. He was three times first-team All-SWC and in 1974 was named second-team All-American.
No. 4 Tyree Wilson (2020-22): The only good thing that ever came out of Texas A&M was Tyree Wilson. The defensive lineman extraordinaire spent two--doubtless miserable--seasons in College Station, one as a redshirt and the other as a redshirt freshman. He came to his senses, however, and transferred to Texas Tech where he earned first-team All-America notice in 2022, his junior year. Wilson declared for the NFL draft and was selected number seven overall. In three years with the Las Vegas Raiders Wilson started seven games, and recorded 57 tackles, 12 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Wilson was traded to the New Orleans Saints.
No. 5 Aaron Hunt (1998-2002): Aaron Hunt is one of those players--alas, not too uncommon--who killed it in college but didn't make a dent in the NFL. The defensive end from Denison, Texas set the Texas Tech and Big XII sack record with 34 traps. He was selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft but didn't play a down in the league. A member of Texas Tech's Hall of Fame, Hunt is now on the football staff at Baylor.
This article originates on InsideTheRedRaiders.com.