Texas Tech has plenty of offensive firepower heading into 2026, but one of the Red Raiders’ most important strengths may be developing on the back end of the defense. Safety Malik Esquerra believes second-year position coach Rob Greene has built a room that knows exactly what it’s supposed to do, and that could be huge for a Texas Tech team with championship expectations. MORE: Texas Tech Hoops Adds State Champion Guard to 2026-27 Roster
“Coach Greene’s been amazing,” Esquerra said Friday. “You honestly won’t see a lot of bust from us just because we know what we’re doing.” That’s exactly what defensive coaches want to hear three weeks before the season opener against Abilene Christian. Texas Tech already proved last season that its defense could create chaos. The Red Raiders led the nation with 32 takeaways and allowed just 190.1 passing yards per game, numbers that helped turn the defense into a legitimate strength. Greene deserves some of the credit. He’s entering his second season coaching the safeties after previous stops at Wofford and Tulane, and his fingerprints are starting to show in the consistency of the secondary. Esquerra is one of the players who could benefit most. The junior played only two games as a freshman in 2024, but his role expanded dramatically last season. He appeared in all 14 games, contributing on special teams and as a reserve safety while finishing with eight tackles and one pass breakup. Now he’s looking to make another jump. That matters because Texas Tech doesn’t need its defense to simply survive while an explosive offense carries the load. If the secondary continues limiting busted coverages and forcing turnovers, the Red Raiders become much harder to beat. And that’s where Greene’s impact could become especially important. Texas Tech’s offense is loaded with weapons, including wide receivers Malcom Simmons, Michael Dever and Kenny Johnson, plus a deep running back group featuring Cameron Dickey, J’Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner. The talent is obvious. The difference between being good and being a real College Football Playoff threat may come down to whether the defense can be just as dependable. MORE: 'Ahead of Schedule!' Will Hammond Holds the Keys to Texas Tech’s 2026 Title Dreams Esquerra’s comments suggest the safety room is trending in that direction. Texas Tech has spent plenty of time building an offense capable of scoring with anybody. Now the Red Raiders may also have a secondary disciplined enough to make opponents pay for every mistake.