Photo by: Josh Beam
Texas Tech to ACU Pipeline "Instrumental" to Wildcats' Success
9/3/2026 10:35:00 AM | Football
There will be fewer former Texas Tech football players suited up for Abilene Christian when the two schools square off Saturday evening than in the nail-biting 2024 overtime thriller, but the connections are just as strong.
Six current Wildcats previously spent time at Texas Tech: tight end Jayden York, offensive lineman Kaden Carr, defensive backs Jocelyn Malaska, Javeon Wilcox and Deante Lindsay, and defensive lineman Tanner Allen. York, Carr, Malaska and Wilcox have worked their way into ACU's starting lineup.
It is part of a working relationship which has been going on since the end of the 2021 season when Keith Patterson was hired as ACU's head coach, and Joey McGuire became the Red Raiders' head coach.
"I would be hard pressed to think of one player that Joey has texted, called or recommended that has come here that hasn't been productive," said Patterson. "I think almost every young man has made an impact, or is going to."
ACU has become a place to thrive for players who didn't get enough playing time or weren't a good fit at an FBS school. All-America players such as Will Shaffer (Arizona State), Javon Gipson (Baylor), Dorian Plumley (Oklahoma), and Sam Hicks (Central Michigan) all transferred from FBS programs and found success in Abilene.
More than a dozen have transferred from Texas Tech to ACU and most were key contributors to the Wildcats' back-to-back UAC championships such as quarterback Maverick McIvor, tight end Jed Castles, receivers Nehemiah Martinez I and Trey Cleveland, center Tay Yanta, and punter Grant Nickel.
"It's been great for our football program. If we hadn't had those young men who got in the portal and left Texas Tech, we wouldn't have turned this program around as fast as we did. Those guys were instrumental to our success."
The proximity to Lubbock, and Patterson and McGuire's relationship have put ACU in position to scoop up talented players and give them an opportunity to make a difference.
"There's young men all over our roster that basically Joey will say, 'These men are going to get in the [transfer] portal.' It's so easy for them to drive over here.
"There are so many of those guys that it didn't work out at Texas Tech and then they come here. It's been a great partnership per se."
The Wildcats and Red Raiders kickoff at 6 p.m. Saturday at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock on Fox Sports 1 and the ACU Sports Network.
Six current Wildcats previously spent time at Texas Tech: tight end Jayden York, offensive lineman Kaden Carr, defensive backs Jocelyn Malaska, Javeon Wilcox and Deante Lindsay, and defensive lineman Tanner Allen. York, Carr, Malaska and Wilcox have worked their way into ACU's starting lineup.
It is part of a working relationship which has been going on since the end of the 2021 season when Keith Patterson was hired as ACU's head coach, and Joey McGuire became the Red Raiders' head coach.
"I would be hard pressed to think of one player that Joey has texted, called or recommended that has come here that hasn't been productive," said Patterson. "I think almost every young man has made an impact, or is going to."
ACU has become a place to thrive for players who didn't get enough playing time or weren't a good fit at an FBS school. All-America players such as Will Shaffer (Arizona State), Javon Gipson (Baylor), Dorian Plumley (Oklahoma), and Sam Hicks (Central Michigan) all transferred from FBS programs and found success in Abilene.
More than a dozen have transferred from Texas Tech to ACU and most were key contributors to the Wildcats' back-to-back UAC championships such as quarterback Maverick McIvor, tight end Jed Castles, receivers Nehemiah Martinez I and Trey Cleveland, center Tay Yanta, and punter Grant Nickel.
"It's been great for our football program. If we hadn't had those young men who got in the portal and left Texas Tech, we wouldn't have turned this program around as fast as we did. Those guys were instrumental to our success."
The proximity to Lubbock, and Patterson and McGuire's relationship have put ACU in position to scoop up talented players and give them an opportunity to make a difference.
"There's young men all over our roster that basically Joey will say, 'These men are going to get in the [transfer] portal.' It's so easy for them to drive over here.
"There are so many of those guys that it didn't work out at Texas Tech and then they come here. It's been a great partnership per se."
The Wildcats and Red Raiders kickoff at 6 p.m. Saturday at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock on Fox Sports 1 and the ACU Sports Network.
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