Texas Tech University Athletics
2023 Football Roster
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Jersey Number 53
Rusty Staats
- Position:
- Offensive Line
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 320
- Class:
- Super-Senior
- Hometown:
- Watertown, Tenn.
- High School:
- Watertown
2023 SEASON (SUPER SENIOR)
Staple in the middle of Texas Techโs offensive line during lone season as a Red Raider โฆ started in 12 games, missing only the Kansas (11/11) contest late in Big 12 play โฆ split time between center and right guard, moving over to his right one spot after an injury at BYU (10/21) โฆ entered the season as Texas Techโs starter at center but moved to right guard in November beginning with the TCU (11/2) game โฆ led the team with 975 offensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus โฆ made 606 of those snaps at center with the other 369 coming at right guard โฆ credited with 23 pressures allowed over 522 opportunities by PFF โฆ total included only three sacks allowed on the season โฆ closed his collegiate career with 56 career games and 39 career starts between his time at Texas Tech and previously at Western Kentucky โฆ AWARDS AND HONORS: an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the conference coaches โฆ preseason candidate as part of the Rimington Trophy watch list โฆ selected for the Reeseโs Senior Bowl watch list prior to the season.
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
Signed with Texas Tech with one season of eligibility โฆ previously starred at Western Kentucky where he was coached by current Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley and offensive line coach Stephen Hamby in 2021 โฆ appeared in 45 games for the Hilltoppers with 27 starts, all in the past two years โฆ was Western Kentuckyโs primary starter at center โฆ tabbed an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection each of his final two seasons โฆ helped push Western Kentucky to a pair of nine win seasons and two bowl victories โฆ 2022 SEASON (SENIOR): started in all 14 games for the Hilltoppers โฆ allowed only one sack over 651 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus โฆ credited with only one quarterback hit allowed as well as seven quarterback hurries and nine quarterback pressures โฆ led the FBS, as of Dec. 22, for most pressure opportunities โฆ ranked tied for seventh among centers nationally in pass blocking efficiency according to PFF โฆ credited with being in on 1,039 plays offensively and another 79 on the field goal protection unit โฆ honorable mention All-Conference USA selection โฆ tabbed to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to the season โฆ 2021 SEASON: (JUNIOR): started and played in 13-of-14 games, missing only the Boca Raton Bowl victory over Appalachian State โฆ anchored an offensive line that protected Bailey Zappe on his way to setting the NCAA FBS records for single-season passing yards and passing touchdowns โฆ unit only allowed 17 sacks on the season, which ranked 12th in the FBS and second in Conference USA โฆ collected honorable mention All-CUSA honors by conference coaches and second team accolades by Pro Football Focus โฆ 2020 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): appeared in seven games with 46 offensive snaps as an interior offensive lineman โฆ saw action on multiple special teams units โฆ 2019 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): appeared in 11 of 13 games, playing a total of 15 offensive snaps as a redshirt freshman โฆ majority of offensive snaps came in blowout wins at Arkansas and Southern Miss โฆ 2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN): redshirt season.
ย
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Watertown High School in his hometown of Watertown, Tenn. โฆ four-year starter for the Purple Tigers โฆ helped team to an 8-3 record his senior year and a second-place finish in Region 4-2A โฆ was an All-Region 4-2A honoree that season โฆ tabbed a Class 2A semifinalist for the Mr. Football Award in Tennessee his senior year โฆ originally committed to Navy as part of 2017 class and spent one year at the prep school before enrolling at Western Kentucky.
Staple in the middle of Texas Techโs offensive line during lone season as a Red Raider โฆ started in 12 games, missing only the Kansas (11/11) contest late in Big 12 play โฆ split time between center and right guard, moving over to his right one spot after an injury at BYU (10/21) โฆ entered the season as Texas Techโs starter at center but moved to right guard in November beginning with the TCU (11/2) game โฆ led the team with 975 offensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus โฆ made 606 of those snaps at center with the other 369 coming at right guard โฆ credited with 23 pressures allowed over 522 opportunities by PFF โฆ total included only three sacks allowed on the season โฆ closed his collegiate career with 56 career games and 39 career starts between his time at Texas Tech and previously at Western Kentucky โฆ AWARDS AND HONORS: an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the conference coaches โฆ preseason candidate as part of the Rimington Trophy watch list โฆ selected for the Reeseโs Senior Bowl watch list prior to the season.
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
Signed with Texas Tech with one season of eligibility โฆ previously starred at Western Kentucky where he was coached by current Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley and offensive line coach Stephen Hamby in 2021 โฆ appeared in 45 games for the Hilltoppers with 27 starts, all in the past two years โฆ was Western Kentuckyโs primary starter at center โฆ tabbed an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection each of his final two seasons โฆ helped push Western Kentucky to a pair of nine win seasons and two bowl victories โฆ 2022 SEASON (SENIOR): started in all 14 games for the Hilltoppers โฆ allowed only one sack over 651 opportunities, according to Pro Football Focus โฆ credited with only one quarterback hit allowed as well as seven quarterback hurries and nine quarterback pressures โฆ led the FBS, as of Dec. 22, for most pressure opportunities โฆ ranked tied for seventh among centers nationally in pass blocking efficiency according to PFF โฆ credited with being in on 1,039 plays offensively and another 79 on the field goal protection unit โฆ honorable mention All-Conference USA selection โฆ tabbed to the Rimington Trophy watch list prior to the season โฆ 2021 SEASON: (JUNIOR): started and played in 13-of-14 games, missing only the Boca Raton Bowl victory over Appalachian State โฆ anchored an offensive line that protected Bailey Zappe on his way to setting the NCAA FBS records for single-season passing yards and passing touchdowns โฆ unit only allowed 17 sacks on the season, which ranked 12th in the FBS and second in Conference USA โฆ collected honorable mention All-CUSA honors by conference coaches and second team accolades by Pro Football Focus โฆ 2020 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): appeared in seven games with 46 offensive snaps as an interior offensive lineman โฆ saw action on multiple special teams units โฆ 2019 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): appeared in 11 of 13 games, playing a total of 15 offensive snaps as a redshirt freshman โฆ majority of offensive snaps came in blowout wins at Arkansas and Southern Miss โฆ 2018 SEASON (FRESHMAN): redshirt season.
ย
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Watertown High School in his hometown of Watertown, Tenn. โฆ four-year starter for the Purple Tigers โฆ helped team to an 8-3 record his senior year and a second-place finish in Region 4-2A โฆ was an All-Region 4-2A honoree that season โฆ tabbed a Class 2A semifinalist for the Mr. Football Award in Tennessee his senior year โฆ originally committed to Navy as part of 2017 class and spent one year at the prep school before enrolling at Western Kentucky.
Saturday, September 26
Saturday, September 26
Friday, September 25
Thursday, September 24
