3-star defensive tackle transfer commits to Texas Tech football program
The Texas Tech defensive line added a potentially important piece to the mix for 2025 on Saturday. That’s when the transfer portal brought Northern Illinois defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard to the Red Raiders.
A 6-foot-1, 285-pound redshirt junior in 2024, the Wisconsin native was extremely productive this season. Making 51 tackles, he had eight for a loss and five sacks in 12 games played.
Last season, in 13 games, he registered 24 tackles with for going for a loss and one sack. Prior to 2023, he redshirted in 2022 after playing at Upper Iowa as a true freshman.
Gill-Howard is rated by 247Sports.com as a 3-star transfer. He’s the No. 119 player in the portal at this time and the No. 12 defensive tackle
This is the first defensive line addition via the portal in the current recruiting cycle for Texas Tech. There will likely be more given all the program is losing this offseason.
After this year’s Liberty Bowl, Tech will see seniors Quincy Ledet Jr., De’braylon Carroll, and James Hansen exhaust their eligibility. Between them, that trio made 40 tackles this year.
Gill-Howard is the sixth player to commit to the Red Raiders since the portal opened on Monday, December 9th. But he won’t be the last.
Tech still needs to add more help along the interior defensive line as well as at edge rusher. However, the defense has already been fortified by the addition of three defensive back transfers. That should help a secondary that was one of the worst in the nation this season.
On offense, Tech will likely bring in a backup quarterback, a tight end, a running back, and multiple offensive linemen to add to FCS star Hunter Zambrano who was Texas Tech’s first transfer signee this week.
It’s already been a wild week in Raiderland and the fun is likely to continue throughout the weekend as several transfers are in Lubbock for visits. So keep checking in with Wreck Em’ Red for all the latest as the overhaul of the Texas Tech roster continues.
Leave a Reply