​College football’s talk season kicked off last week at The Star in Frisco, Texas, as Big 12 Media Days rolled out. Among the most highly regarded draft prospects in attendance was AJ Holmes, a defensive tackle from Texas Tech. Holmes, who earned the Big 12’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor, shared the field last season in Lubbock with three of his position-group teammates who were selected in the early rounds of this past April’s NFL Draft.
Edge rusher David Bailey went second overall to the New York Jets, establishing a stunning start for the Texas Tech contingent. Nose tackle Lee Hunter followed as a second-round pick, 49th overall, to the Carolina Panthers. Finally, defensive end Romello Height was selected 70th overall, moving in the third round to the San Francisco 49ers. The pipeline was remarkable, with Holmes now positioned to join them in the 2027 cycle, as his current projection sits in the early-to-mid second round. It’s not every year that a defense can boast that level of talent concentrated on one line, and this season figures to be a showcase for their collective abilities.
Holmes stands out physically, measuring 6’3″ and around 300 pounds, but his gifts go beyond sheer size. He possesses a first step that bodes well for disruption, a rare combination of power and agility that makes him a formidable run-stuffer and a perpetual threat in the backfield. The Houston native has the tools to command attention in multiple facets of the game, from clogging running lanes to collapsing pockets in pass protection.
Last season, Holmes wasn’t asked to shoulder as heavy a load. The surrounding talent around him allowed him to operate with less on his plate, enabling him to play off the other linemen and contribute in a complementary role. With those teammates moving on to the professional ranks, the 2024 season will shift the spotlight squarely onto Holmes. He’ll be the focal point of Texas Tech’s front seven, a role that should unlock more opportunities for him to demonstrate his development and refine his pass-rushing repertoire.
If there’s one verdict to put forward, it’s that the Texas Tech defensive line was, at once, exceptionally stacked and uniquely dynamic. Having three players drafted in the early rounds, plus Holmes poised to follow in their footsteps, underscores the program’s ability to cultivate NFL-caliber talent along the trenches. Holmes’ combination of size, power, and a polished pass rush could translate into a breakout season and a higher draft stock as he begins to shoulder a heavier workload.
As the upcoming season unfolds, all eyes will be on Holmes to see how he adapts to being the main anchor of the Tech defense, how aggressively he assaults opposing offenses, and how consistently he can translate his athletic traits into production against top-tier collegiate competition. The legacy of that remarkable 2026 Texas Tech front line—kicked off by three early-round selections and complemented by Holmes’ rising projection—adds a compelling storyline to what should be an exciting year of college football.
This piece originally appeared on Draft Wire: AJ Holmes Jr. played with three 2026 NFL Draft Picks at Texas Tech for better SEO.