Texas Tech University Athletics
2023 Football Roster
Roster
Tyrique Matthews
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 235
- Class:
- Super-Senior
- Hometown:
- Houston, Texas
- High School:
- Eisenhower
2023 SEASON (SUPER SENIOR)
Key member in linebacker rotation and on special teams during final season as a Red Raider โฆ appeared in 11 games overall, missing two non-conference contests against Oregon and Tarleton State due to injury โฆ totaled 14 tackles overall (11 solo) to go along with an interception โฆ one of his tackles went for a loss โฆ recorded tackles in four different games โฆ credited with 108 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus and an additional 159 snaps on special teams โฆ ranked fifth on the team in total special teams snaps and was first among linebackers โฆ member of Texas Techโs kickoff return, kickoff and punt coverage units consistently throughout the season โฆ SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: came off the bench to make a career-high six tackles in the season opener at Wyoming (9/2) โฆ utilized for a season-high 57 defensive snaps against the Cowboys, filling in for an injured Jacob Rodriguez โฆ returned from injury to make three tackles in the Big 12 opener at West Virginia (9/23) โฆ followed with two stops the next week in the win over Houston (9/30), including one that went for a loss โฆ stuffed Houston for a one-yard loss on its final drive of the game โฆ notched his final three tackles of the season against Kansas State (10/14) โฆ capped his Red Raider career with his first career interception in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl versus Cal (12/16) โฆ shut down Calโs opening drive of the second half, making a diving catch to stop the Golden Bearsโ drive near midfield.
2022 SEASON (SENIOR)
Saw his most-significant action to date as a Red Raider as a senior โฆ valuable member of the linebacker corps who appeared in all 13 games โฆ utilized heavily on close-yardage or clear rushing downs when Texas Tech moved to a heavier set โฆ totaled 16 tackles (9 solo), including 3.5 for a loss, to go along with a fumble recovery โฆ marked the most tackles and tackles for loss in a season thus far in his Red Raider career โฆ credited with appearing in 147 defensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus and an additional 209 on special teams โฆ once again praised for his work on special teams as part of the kickoff, kick return, punt coverage, field goal block and punt return units throughout the year โฆ ranked second on the team behind only fellow linebacker Patrick Curley in total special teams snaps โฆ graded out at 78.4 on special teams by PFF, which led all Red Raiders who appeared in four or more games โฆ SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: opened the season with two tackles, including a career-high 1.5 for a loss, to open the year against Murray State (9/3) โฆ posted another career-high with five tackles two weeks later at N.C. State (9/17), which included another tackle for loss โฆ the TFL forced N.C. State into a 3rd-and-14 attempt, which ultimately failed and gave the ball back for a late touchdown just before halftime โฆ made one stop in three different games against West Virginia (10/22), Kansas (11/12) and Oklahoma (11/26) โฆ the tackle in the rout over the Mountaineers went for a loss and was in addition to a fumble recovery that came at midfield late in the third quarter, setting up another Red Raider touchdown โฆ recorded two tackles in three different road games at Oklahoma State (10/8), TCU (11/5) and Iowa State (11/19) โฆ scooped up a squib kick against the Cowboys as well, returning it 20 yards for his lone return of the year โฆ AWARDS AND HONORS: recognized for his work in the classroom as part of the Academic All-Big 12 first team โฆ SENIOR DECISION: elected to return to the Red Raiders for the 2023 season as part of the extra year of eligibility afforded for the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
2021 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Regular on special teams and in the linebacker rotation as a junior โฆ appeared in all 13 games, totaling nine tackles to go along with a forced fumble โฆ ranked second on the team with five special teams tackles with three coming on kickoff coverage and two as part of a punt โฆ utilized on almost all of Texas Techโs special teams units, leading the team with 181 snaps โฆ credited with 72 snaps on kickoffs, 53 on kickoff returns, 44 on punt, 10 on punt return and two on field goal block โฆ had one tackle in six different games โ versus Houston (9/4), Florida International (9/18), at West Virginia (10/2), against Kansas State (10/23), at Baylor (11/27) and in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Mississippi State (12/28) โฆ set a career high with three stops at Texas (9/25), including one that went for a loss โฆ recovered the first fumble of his career just before halftime against Mississippi State, falling on a Austin Williams muffed punt โฆ recovery gave the Red Raiders the ball in the red zone, setting up a Jonathan Garibay field goal.
2020 SEAS0N (SOPHOMORE)
Saw action in nine games as a sophomore, missing only the win over West Virginia (10/24) โฆ served as a backup linebacker and was a key part of Texas Techโs special teams efforts โฆ made three tackles on the season, all of which came in the final three games โฆ had one tackle each against Baylor (11/14), Oklahoma State (11/28) and Kansas (12/5) โฆ all three tackles were the result of special teams with two coming via kickoff coverage and the other as part of the punt team.
2019 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
Appeared in all 12 games as only a true freshman โฆ one of four true freshmen on the defensive side of the ball to appear in five or more games โฆ saw action as either a reserve linebacker or as a key member of Texas Techโs special teams units โฆ totaled 10 tackles (six solo) on the season, only one of which came on special teams โฆ actually notched his season total for tackles over five games โฆ had two tackles in each of those five contests, which came against Montana State (8/31), UTEP (9/7), Oklahoma (9/28), West Virginia (11/9) and Texas (11/29).
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Aldine Eisenhower High School in Houston, Texas โฆ played both sides of the ball during his junior and senior seasons โฆ garnered first team All-District and District Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior ... was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year at the Touchdown Club of Houston annual banquet ... recorded 53 yards and a touchdown on offense, playing at both receiver and running back over his career โฆ averaged 6.2 tackles a game as a senior after finishing the year with 31 total tackles โฆ also intercepted a pass โฆ rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ ranked as the No. 37 outside linebacker in the 2019 class by Rivals โฆ CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Arkansas State, Army, Fresno State, Lamar, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Tulsa and UTSA.
PERSONAL
Tyrique Matthews โฆ born in New Orleans, La. ... son of Robert Matthews and Tonique Fleming ... middle child of three siblings ... has an older brother, Robert, and a younger brother, Rashaad ... earned bachelor's degree May 2023 in university studies ... seeking a graduate degree in interdisciplinary studies.
