Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech trio recognized on FWAA All-America Team
December 18, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – The 2025 Football Writers Association of America All-America Team, presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, included three Red Raiders on its team on Thursday, tying for the third-most selections among all schools. David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez were named to the FWAA first team, capping their week as unanimous first-team All-Americans, while Lee Hunter was named to the FWAA second team.
Bailey, an edge rusher, and Rodriguez, a linebacker, are the sixth and seventh individuals in program history honored as unanimous All-Americans, while it is the seventh and eighth times overall a Red Raider has been a unanimous All-American, as Michael Crabtree remains the only two-time unanimous All-American in school history. Bailey and Rodriguez join Mark Bounds (1991), Zach Thomas (1995), Byron Hanspard (1996), Crabtree (2007–08), and Jace Amaro (2013) as Texas Tech's all-time unanimous All-America selections.
The FWAA All-America Team is one of the five teams used to determine the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be officially announced on Friday. Bailey and Rodriguez earned first-team recognition from all five NCAA-recognized selectors — the Walter Camp Football Foundation (Friday), Associated Press (Monday), AFCA (Tuesday), Sporting News (Wednesday), and FWAA (Thursday).
In addition to Bailey and Rodriguez receiving multiple All-America honors, Hunter was named to the Associated Press third team on Monday, making him a two-time All-American this week. Hunter is the first Texas Tech defensive tackle recognized as an All-American by the FWAA since Montae Reagor in 1998. In more recent seasons, the FWAA has honored edge rusher Tyree Wilson (2022) and linebacker Jordyn Brooks (2019), who share the respective positions with Bailey and Rodriguez.
Prior to the 2025 season, 27 Texas Tech players had earned first-team All-America honors, accounting for 49 all-time All-America selections (first, second, or third team). In addition to Bailey, Rodriguez, and Hunter's recognition, the Associated Press named A.J. Holmes Jr. to its second team, marking an unprecedented season of national honors for the Red Raiders.
The four Red Raiders named to at least one All-America team this year are the most in a single season since 2008 had five, when Brandon Carter (OL), Michael Crabtree (WR), Graham Harrell (QB), Rylan Reed (OL), and Louis Vasquez (OG) were each named to one or more All-America teams. It is the first season since 2001 with multiple defensive players named All-Americans when Kevin Curtis (S), Lawrence Flugence (LB), and Aaron Hunt (DE) earned honors. Moreover, it marks just the second time in program history that a defensive duo earned at least one first-team All-America selection in the same season, joining the 1995 season when Marcus Coleman (DB) and Zach Thomas (LB) were recognized — but 2025 is the first season ever to feature a pair of unanimous first-team All-Americans, on defense, or offense.
Texas Tech, which earned its first bid to the College Football Playoff, will face the winner of the first-round matchup between Oregon and James Madison on Dec. 20. The Red Raiders will play the victor in the CFP quarterfinals on Jan. 1 at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
To view the complete FWAA All-America first and second teams, visit www.sportswriters.net/fwaa.
About the FWAA
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.Â
Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced later this week. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
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Bailey, an edge rusher, and Rodriguez, a linebacker, are the sixth and seventh individuals in program history honored as unanimous All-Americans, while it is the seventh and eighth times overall a Red Raider has been a unanimous All-American, as Michael Crabtree remains the only two-time unanimous All-American in school history. Bailey and Rodriguez join Mark Bounds (1991), Zach Thomas (1995), Byron Hanspard (1996), Crabtree (2007–08), and Jace Amaro (2013) as Texas Tech's all-time unanimous All-America selections.
The FWAA All-America Team is one of the five teams used to determine the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be officially announced on Friday. Bailey and Rodriguez earned first-team recognition from all five NCAA-recognized selectors — the Walter Camp Football Foundation (Friday), Associated Press (Monday), AFCA (Tuesday), Sporting News (Wednesday), and FWAA (Thursday).
In addition to Bailey and Rodriguez receiving multiple All-America honors, Hunter was named to the Associated Press third team on Monday, making him a two-time All-American this week. Hunter is the first Texas Tech defensive tackle recognized as an All-American by the FWAA since Montae Reagor in 1998. In more recent seasons, the FWAA has honored edge rusher Tyree Wilson (2022) and linebacker Jordyn Brooks (2019), who share the respective positions with Bailey and Rodriguez.
Prior to the 2025 season, 27 Texas Tech players had earned first-team All-America honors, accounting for 49 all-time All-America selections (first, second, or third team). In addition to Bailey, Rodriguez, and Hunter's recognition, the Associated Press named A.J. Holmes Jr. to its second team, marking an unprecedented season of national honors for the Red Raiders.
The four Red Raiders named to at least one All-America team this year are the most in a single season since 2008 had five, when Brandon Carter (OL), Michael Crabtree (WR), Graham Harrell (QB), Rylan Reed (OL), and Louis Vasquez (OG) were each named to one or more All-America teams. It is the first season since 2001 with multiple defensive players named All-Americans when Kevin Curtis (S), Lawrence Flugence (LB), and Aaron Hunt (DE) earned honors. Moreover, it marks just the second time in program history that a defensive duo earned at least one first-team All-America selection in the same season, joining the 1995 season when Marcus Coleman (DB) and Zach Thomas (LB) were recognized — but 2025 is the first season ever to feature a pair of unanimous first-team All-Americans, on defense, or offense.
Texas Tech, which earned its first bid to the College Football Playoff, will face the winner of the first-round matchup between Oregon and James Madison on Dec. 20. The Red Raiders will play the victor in the CFP quarterfinals on Jan. 1 at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
To view the complete FWAA All-America first and second teams, visit www.sportswriters.net/fwaa.
About the FWAA
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.Â
Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA's annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced later this week. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
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Players Mentioned
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