Texas Tech freshman edge rusher LaDamion Guyton is making noise well before he can legally vote, and the rest of college football is starting to notice.
Billy Tucker of ESPN included Guyton at No. 21 on his list of the top 25 true freshmen in college football so far in 2026, giving the Red Raiders a little more national spotlight for a player who has already forced his way into the two-deep rotation at defensive end/outside linebacker. He may not be starting, but he is holding his own at the Power 4 level as one of the youngest players in the FBS.
The production has been modest, but it has been enough to turn heads. Guyton has been credited with seven tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. For a player who should still be worrying about a high school homecoming dance, that kind of early impact says plenty.
Texas Tech itself has already showcased one of those moments. After his second sack of the day on September 26, the program posted: “LaDamion Guyton. Learn the name.
Second sack of the day.
📺 TNT pic.twitter.com/fMCN9IvTlR”
What makes the start even more impressive is that Guyton arrived in Lubbock already built like a college defender. He came in at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, which meant Texas Tech didn’t need to treat him like a typical redshirt candidate trying to catch up physically. He stepped on campus looking the part right away, even though he didn’t get to Lubbock until August and missed months of work in the Red Raiders’ strength and conditioning program before the season.
That’s part of why the long view around Guyton is so enticing. He’s already big by most adult standards, and he’s still got room to grow as he gets bigger, stronger and faster over the next few seasons. Just as important, he’s getting his learning done on the fly against college competition instead of piling up empty numbers against high school opponents.
Texas Tech appears to be the real beneficiary here. Guyton’s rapid adjustment has been one of the most encouraging developments of 2026 for the Red Raiders, and the expectation is that the experience he’s collecting now will matter even more next season, when he will likely be asked to play a major role on defense. Each week, he looks a little more comfortable, and now the national audience is starting to catch up to what Texas Tech fans have been seeing already.
In Other News...
Texas Tech May Be Judging Will Hammond Far Too Soon
With Texas Tech on a bye, the pause arrives at a useful time for a staff trying to sort out what it really has at quarterback. Will Hammonds first five games have produced a mixed early read, with the usual bumps that come when a young passer is asked to carry an offense, but also enough flashes to keep the conversation from turning too quickly into a verdict. The timing matters because the Red Raiders are not just reviewing results, they are trying to judge growth, health and how much patience a quarterback in Hammonds spot should be afforded.
Hammond is still working his way back from a knee injury, which only adds another layer to the evaluation. His situation has also been framed against the early path of former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, a reminder that some programs have seen promising passers need time before the picture fully comes into focus. There is also a practical wrinkle hanging over the room, with backup Tommy Castellanos potentially in line to start if his eligibility is restored, leaving Texas Tech with more than one moving part to consider as it comes out of the bye. [Read more 🡒]