It takes the perfect mix for a dream season; new and old, planning and good fortune. Texas Tech is in the midst of perhaps its best season in program history, ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, sitting atop the Big 12 standings, and just two weeks removed from a dominant top-10 win over BYU with College Gameday in town.
The Red Raiders’ quarterback, Behren Morton, and star linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez, are back from last year’s eight-win team. However, the Red Raiders also scoured the transfer portal for new talent. Foremost among their additions was one of the portal’s hottest commodities.
David Bailey: College Football’s Top Edge Rusher
Following three strong seasons at Stanford, senior edge rusher David Bailey has thrived upon transferring to Texas Tech this season. He was the highest-rated member of the Red Raiders’ top-ranked transfer portal class and has looked every bit the part. Bailey leads the nation with 12.5 sacks this season and has by far the top PFSN EDGE Impact Score.Â
Not only is he the only EDGE player with an “A” grade, but no one else even has an “A-“. The difference between Bailey’s nation’s leading 93.2 EDGE Impact Score and the second-highest (Utah’s John Henry Daley at 88.7) is the same as the difference between Daley’s and the ninth-highest EDGE Impact Score. It’s no wonder Bailey is receiving Heisman love lately.
He has the most sacks by a Big 12 player since Baylor’s James Lynch in 2019 (13.5) and is the first Big 12 player with double-digit sacks in a season since 2022. He’s on pace to become the first Big 12 player to lead the nation in sacks since Von Miller did so for Texas A&M in 2009 (before the Aggies left for the SEC).
Bailey also leads the nation in quarterback hits (31 through 11 games) and is second in defensive splash plays (sacks, tackles for loss, passes defended, forced fumbles, and interceptions) with 15.
Bailey’s production has also been steady. He’s recorded at least half a sack in nine of the Red Raiders’ 11 games and a full sack in eight of them. He also has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this fall.
Suffice to say, Texas Tech has gotten its money’s worth after ponying up to steer Bailey away from his intended destination of UCLA.
Edge Rushers: Transfer Portal Treasures
The top six edge rushers by PFSN’s impact score are all transfers. That’s a notable trend for one of football’s most coveted positions and one we’ll probably see continue to bear itself out once the 2026 transfer portal officially opens in January. Daley transferred from BYU to Utah ahead of the 2024 season, while Clev Lubin (3rd in EDGE Impact Score) joined Louisville via Coastal Carolina for this season.
Keyshawn James-Newby (4th in EDGE Impact Score) took a more unconventional route, working his way from the NAIA level with Montana Tech to Idaho (Division I FCS) and then to New Mexico this season. He joined the Lobos with proven production, already holding 28.5 career sacks to his name, and has added 6.5 this season. He is currently top 10 in quarterback hits and defensive splash plays.
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Cameron Robertson (fifth in EDGE Impact Score) is in his third season with SMU after starting his college career at North Texas, and Wendell Gregory (sixth) joined Oklahoma State by way of South Carolina this past offseason.
Whether their production spiked in their first or second season with a new school or they’re at their second or third school, edge rushers are one of the hottest commodities in the transfer portal and are proving why with their production.
