Familiar territory: New Tech transfer back near home, back on defense
When Terrell Tilmon came back home to Texas from Oregon, one of the first things he did was head to Whataburger and place his favorite order: a patty melt with bacon, large fries, large Sprite and a cinnamon roll.
He made it a point to see his grandmother, and when his stomach started growling sometime during those first few days back in the Metroplex, he made a stop at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, too.
The faces and foods of home aren't the only thing familiar to the new Texas Tech outside linebacker. He's also playing again for Tim DeRuyter, who was the defensive coordinator at Oregon in 2021 and the defensive coordinator for Texas Tech since December 2021.
When Tilmon had his name entered into the NCAA transfer portal after last season, DeRuyter was one of the first coaches to contact him.
"We already a great relationship," Tilmon said. "He recruited me out of high school, coached me my freshman year (at Oregon), and we just got closer and stayed tight. Even when he left (Oregon), we were still tight and still talking."
Tilmon, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound outside linebacker from Mansfield Timberview, transferred to Tech in January and is going through spring football practice with the Red Raiders. When his name was in the portal, Tilmon said he also heard from Kansas, Oklahoma and Nevada and took a visit to Stephen F. Austin.
Recruiting services ranked Tilmon among the state's top 70 prospects coming out of high school. About 20 schools offered him a scholarship during that recruiting cycle, including half the schools in the Big 12 and about half the schools in the Pac-12.
Though proximity to home is a welcome change for Tilmon, the desire to play defense again factored into his decision to transfer. He played in 14 games his freshman year at Oregon, mostly on special teams, and got credit for five tackles. Before last season, Ducks coaches moved him to tight end and Tilmon got into only one game.
"Mario Cristobal recruited me, the old head coach," Tilmon said. "Dan Lanning came in [as Oregon head coach in December 2021]. Our outside linebacker room was so deep that there was no room.
"Coach Lanning asked me if I wanted to play tight end. I said, 'Sure.' But I'm a defensive player at heart, so I just made the best move for myself."
With Tyree Wilson leaving school early for the NFL and Jesiah Pierre training this spring at inside linebacker, the Red Raiders are auditioning edge players. Returning senior Myles Cole and new arrival Steve Linton, who transferred in from Syracuse, are getting a long look.
Joseph Adedire, the 2022 blue-chip signee, was in the two-deep from day one last season, and Isaac Smith came on in the final month last season as a redshirt freshman. Both are out this spring, recovering from off-season surgeries, but will figure prominently when they return. The same can be said for Bryce Ramirez if Ramirez recovers fully from the lower-leg compound fracture he suffered last September.
The Red Raiders are hopeful of that outcome.
"Just seeing him running around and what are trainers are saying, he's on track to progress and (have) no limitations," outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You said of Ramirez. "I tell him all the time, it's just one day at a time. When he gets cleared, he gets cleared and will deal with that.
"He's still the same presence. He is still in the building. He's watching film every day. He's starting to learn the leadership role, really helping the younger guys. Also, the new guys that's coming in, he's a great resource, because he knows every position on the field."
Tilmon, given his frame and athletic traits has plenty of projection, but he hasn't gotten much playing time as an edge player in college and still wants to fill out.
"I need to get a little bigger," he said, "so I can play against and be real effective against the run, be a little more physical. And then develop the back end of my pass rush, being able to dip, rip and reach."
In the latter regard, Tilmon said learning from Ah You has been enlightening.
"So far in the spring, he's really helped me with my pass rush," Tilmon said. "He's really got me learning a couple of new moves from him — really learned how to bend and rip and reach."
Dallas SOC TE commits
Texas Tech picked up an oral commitment Tuesday from Trey Jackson, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound tight end from Dallas South Oak Cliff, the back-to-back state champion in Class 5A Division II.
Jackson was a junior on the Golden Bears' team that went 13-3 this past season, beating Port Neches-Groves in the state-title game.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Familiar territory: New Tech transfer back near home, back on defense
