Texas Tech may be on the verge of a move that would change the feel around the program in a hurry: Darrion Williams could be back in Lubbock.
Williams, a combo forward who starred for the Red Raiders two and three seasons ago before leaving for North Carolina State last season, is currently working out with the team. That alone has fueled the talk that a reunion is more than just a rumor. With Texas Tech trying to patch together a roster that looks thin and short on proven answers, Williams would be a major boost.
There is still one complication. Williams is technically out of collegiate eligibility.
But a lawsuit moving through the courts, centered on restraint of trade against college players who exhausted their eligibility last season, could clear the way. If that challenge succeeds, Williams would be eligible for the upcoming season.
And if he is, the ripple effect for Texas Tech is obvious. Williams and JT Toppin, once Toppin returns from injury, would give the Red Raiders a frontcourt pairing that changes the look of the team.
Josiah Moseley would slide into a strong bench role. Until Toppin is back, Williams and Moseley would handle the front line, with Marial Akuentok or Latrell Hoover offering support off the bench.
That setup may not be perfect, but with Texas Tech’s backcourt strength, it could be enough to keep the Red Raiders in the fight against most of the schedule and maybe even steal a couple of games. If that happens, the team would be in position to make a serious push once Toppin returns.
Williams also arrives with a résumé that suggests NC State’s disappointment last season was not all on him. The Wolfpack expected more, and Williams took plenty of the heat, but the numbers tell a different story.
He led NC State in scoring at 14 points per game, shot 40 percent from 3-point range on high volume, grabbed five rebounds a game and handed out almost three assists per contest. Those numbers line up with what he did at Texas Tech in the 2025 season, which is why there is reason to believe he would bring the same production back to the Red Raiders.
Beyond the stat line, Williams brings experience, toughness, leadership and a feel for big moments. He has shown he can deliver when the pressure rises.
That matters for a Texas Tech team that, at times last season, seemed to need exactly that. If Williams does return, the Red Raiders would suddenly look a lot more relevant nationally.
Right now, nobody is talking about them. That would change fast.
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Texas Tech Fans Will Debate This All-Time Defensive Line Ranking
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The harder part is deciding where to draw the line on talent versus tenure. Lee Hunter and David Bailey both arrived with the kind of buzz that makes them feel like future all-time names, but their stays were too brief to crack the list, and that leaves room for debate about how much one dominant season should count against players who did far more in scarlet and black over a longer stretch. [Read more 🡒]