Texas Tech University Athletics
Through The Smoke: Senior Salute
November 20, 2019 | Football
Texas Tech will honor 16 seniors on Saturday prior to kickoff against K-State.
Sixteen Red Raiders will be suiting up in the home locker room of Jones AT&T Stadium for the final time on Saturday. For the last time, they will head down the tunnel to hear the roar of the crowd, the music of the Goin' Band and see the clouds of smoke in front of them before bursting onto the field behind the Masked Rider.
Senior Day is emotional for many reasons, and these 16 Red Raiders will take part in the pregame festivities before taking to the field in front of 60,000 dressed in black with hopes of extending their season.
Madison Akamnonu: A three-year starter along the offensive line, Akamnonu has started all 10 games at left guard this season for an offensive line that ranks among the nation's best in protecting the quarterback. The Arlington, Texas, native was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2017 and has already earned his bachelor's degree in sport management.
Jordyn Brooks: A Houston native, Brooks made a quick impact upon his arrival in Lubbock by leading the team in tackles as a freshman. He led Tech in tackles again as a junior before putting together one of the strongest seasons by a Tech defender in his final campaign. The linebacker ranks among the national leaders in total tackles, solo tackles and tackles for a loss. An All-Big 12 honorable mention pick the last two seasons, he will become the first Red Raider to lead the team in tackles three different seasons since Lawrence Flugence did so from 2000-02.
Travis Bruffy: One of the most recognizable faces of the Red Raiders the last few seasons, the Missouri City, Texas, native has been a three-year starter for an offensive line that has paved the way for some of the nation's top offenses. Bruffy represented Texas Tech and the Big 12 at the autonomy seesion of the NCAA Convention this past January and has been a first-team honoree on the Academic All-Big 12 squad the last three seasons. On the field, he has been named honorable mention All-Big 12 the last two years as he will make his 33rd career start Saturday against K-State. Bruffy is a double major in Finance and Accounting.
Douglas Coleman III: It's been a remarkable senior campaign for Coleman, who joins Brooks as the team's standout performers as he leads FBS in interceptions entering this weekend. A Zachary, La., native, Coleman moved from corner to safety for his senior season and has become the first Red Raider in the Big 12 era to pile up eight picks in a season. While his ballhawking skills have planted him in the Texas Tech record books, one of his most memorable moments may have come in 2017 against Texas when he stripped a Longhorn at the goal line and returned the fumble 100 yards for a touchdown.
Malik Essilfie: Head coach Matt Wells ended his first training camp leading the Red Raiders with a surprise, placing eight walk-on student-athletes on scholarship. Wells made the surprise using the Jones AT&T Stadium video board with the screen showing the headshots of the first seven recipients and a Double T on the eighth spot. Wells gave the final scholarship to Essilfie, a senior defensive lineman who was described as being "everything that Texas Tech Football is all about."
Lonzell Gilmore: A steady rotational player along the defensive front, Gilmore's career has been challenged by injury, particularly during his sophomore season when he earned the starting spot at rush end entering the season. Nevertheless, he has appeared in 35 games during his career and contributed 28 tackles. Off the field, Gilmore was named first team Academic All-Big 12 as a junior and has already earned his bachelor's degree in university studies.
Armand Shyne: A graduate transfer from Utah, Shyne arrived on campus prior to the 2019 season and led the Red Raiders in rushing the first two games of the year before his season was cut short due to injury. Scored three touchdowns on the year and tallied a 100-yard effort in the season opener against Montana State. Off the field, the Oakland, Calif., native earned his degree in sociology from Utah and is enrolled in graduate school at Texas Tech.
Bailey Smith: A versatile member of the offensive line rotation, Smith saw action in 25 games through his junior year. The Lucas, Texas, native has made starts at both center and left guard while also spending the majority of his sophomore campaign as the primary reserve at right tackle. Off the gridiron, Smith received Academic All-Big 12 second team honors in 2018 and is working towards his degree in finance.
Desmon Smith: A regular in the defensive back rotation since his freshman year, Smith has seen time in 35 games during his career with seven starts as a sophomore, eight as a junior and two more this season while battling injuries. The Odessa product is the first individual from his family to attend college and will receive a degree in university studies.
Terence Steele: A staple on the offensive line for four years, Steele leads the team with 45 career starts between both tackle positions entering Saturday's home finale against K-State. The Cibolo, Texas native has helped pave the way for some of the nation's top offenses, including a line that ranks among the nation's best at protecting the quarterback in 2019. An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a junior, Steele has already earned his bachelor's degree in sport management.
Christian Taylor: A rotational player at linebacker, Taylor appeared in 26 games for the Red Raiders entering 2019 before an injury during fall camp prevented him from suiting up for his senior year. He made the transition from defensive back to linebacker upon arriving at Tech in 2015 and posted seven career tackles. The Houston native has already earned a degree in economics.
Donta Thompson: Capped off his career with his best season yet as the Red Raiders utilized a full-time tight end position for the first time in recent history. Thompson – by far – posted career highs as a senior with 22 receptions for 262 yards, including a career-high five catches in a win over No. 21 Oklahoma State. The Ennis, Texas, native enters Saturday having appeared in 39 career games while already owning a degree in human sciences.
RJ Turner: A graduate transfer from Louisana-Monroe, Turner quickly became one of the most reliable targets for Red Raider quarterbacks in his only season in Lubbock. He's turned in 478 yards of offense and two scores, including a 79-yard strike against TCU. His most impressive outing came against Baylor, where he tallied seven receptions for 138 yards, including a season-long 79-yard completion. Turner is on pace to eclipse the 500-yard receiving mark for the third-consecutive season, dating back to his time as a Warhawk. Turner earned his degree at Louisiana-Monroe prior to transferring to Tech. He is currently focusing on interdisciplinary studies in graduate school.
Jackson Tyner: A graduate transfer from Rice, Tyner has made multiple appearances for Tech on the year, including making his first start on the road in Norman against Oklahoma. Tyner played in 16 games for the Owls, posting a career-high 222 yards and a touchdown at Pitt. He was also a member of the Rice baseball program during the 2017 season, making five relief efforts on the year. Tyner earned his degree in sports management at Rice before transferring to Tech and is currently enrolled in graduate school.
Broderick Washington Jr.: Washington has been a model of consistency and dependability, as the Longview native has played in all 47 games since the start of his redshirt freshman campaign. His 36 starts are the most of any active players on the roster. He's recorded at least seven tackles in three games and has been selected as an All-Big 12 honorable mention twice in his career. He is on pace to break his own season record of seven tackles for a loss and could set a new mark for total tackles as well. Washington is a human sciences major.
Quentin Yontz: Yontz is concluding his third year in Lubbock after transferring from Fullerton College. Redshirted after a junior campaign in which he recorded nine tackles, including two for a loss, and started the last game of the year in the Birmingham Bowl against USF. He has racked up three tackles in his final year, including one in conference play against West Virginia. Yontz has graduated with his degree in university studies.
Senior Day is emotional for many reasons, and these 16 Red Raiders will take part in the pregame festivities before taking to the field in front of 60,000 dressed in black with hopes of extending their season.
Madison Akamnonu: A three-year starter along the offensive line, Akamnonu has started all 10 games at left guard this season for an offensive line that ranks among the nation's best in protecting the quarterback. The Arlington, Texas, native was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2017 and has already earned his bachelor's degree in sport management.
Jordyn Brooks: A Houston native, Brooks made a quick impact upon his arrival in Lubbock by leading the team in tackles as a freshman. He led Tech in tackles again as a junior before putting together one of the strongest seasons by a Tech defender in his final campaign. The linebacker ranks among the national leaders in total tackles, solo tackles and tackles for a loss. An All-Big 12 honorable mention pick the last two seasons, he will become the first Red Raider to lead the team in tackles three different seasons since Lawrence Flugence did so from 2000-02.
Travis Bruffy: One of the most recognizable faces of the Red Raiders the last few seasons, the Missouri City, Texas, native has been a three-year starter for an offensive line that has paved the way for some of the nation's top offenses. Bruffy represented Texas Tech and the Big 12 at the autonomy seesion of the NCAA Convention this past January and has been a first-team honoree on the Academic All-Big 12 squad the last three seasons. On the field, he has been named honorable mention All-Big 12 the last two years as he will make his 33rd career start Saturday against K-State. Bruffy is a double major in Finance and Accounting.
Douglas Coleman III: It's been a remarkable senior campaign for Coleman, who joins Brooks as the team's standout performers as he leads FBS in interceptions entering this weekend. A Zachary, La., native, Coleman moved from corner to safety for his senior season and has become the first Red Raider in the Big 12 era to pile up eight picks in a season. While his ballhawking skills have planted him in the Texas Tech record books, one of his most memorable moments may have come in 2017 against Texas when he stripped a Longhorn at the goal line and returned the fumble 100 yards for a touchdown.
Malik Essilfie: Head coach Matt Wells ended his first training camp leading the Red Raiders with a surprise, placing eight walk-on student-athletes on scholarship. Wells made the surprise using the Jones AT&T Stadium video board with the screen showing the headshots of the first seven recipients and a Double T on the eighth spot. Wells gave the final scholarship to Essilfie, a senior defensive lineman who was described as being "everything that Texas Tech Football is all about."
Lonzell Gilmore: A steady rotational player along the defensive front, Gilmore's career has been challenged by injury, particularly during his sophomore season when he earned the starting spot at rush end entering the season. Nevertheless, he has appeared in 35 games during his career and contributed 28 tackles. Off the field, Gilmore was named first team Academic All-Big 12 as a junior and has already earned his bachelor's degree in university studies.
Armand Shyne: A graduate transfer from Utah, Shyne arrived on campus prior to the 2019 season and led the Red Raiders in rushing the first two games of the year before his season was cut short due to injury. Scored three touchdowns on the year and tallied a 100-yard effort in the season opener against Montana State. Off the field, the Oakland, Calif., native earned his degree in sociology from Utah and is enrolled in graduate school at Texas Tech.
Bailey Smith: A versatile member of the offensive line rotation, Smith saw action in 25 games through his junior year. The Lucas, Texas, native has made starts at both center and left guard while also spending the majority of his sophomore campaign as the primary reserve at right tackle. Off the gridiron, Smith received Academic All-Big 12 second team honors in 2018 and is working towards his degree in finance.
Desmon Smith: A regular in the defensive back rotation since his freshman year, Smith has seen time in 35 games during his career with seven starts as a sophomore, eight as a junior and two more this season while battling injuries. The Odessa product is the first individual from his family to attend college and will receive a degree in university studies.
Terence Steele: A staple on the offensive line for four years, Steele leads the team with 45 career starts between both tackle positions entering Saturday's home finale against K-State. The Cibolo, Texas native has helped pave the way for some of the nation's top offenses, including a line that ranks among the nation's best at protecting the quarterback in 2019. An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a junior, Steele has already earned his bachelor's degree in sport management.
Christian Taylor: A rotational player at linebacker, Taylor appeared in 26 games for the Red Raiders entering 2019 before an injury during fall camp prevented him from suiting up for his senior year. He made the transition from defensive back to linebacker upon arriving at Tech in 2015 and posted seven career tackles. The Houston native has already earned a degree in economics.
Donta Thompson: Capped off his career with his best season yet as the Red Raiders utilized a full-time tight end position for the first time in recent history. Thompson – by far – posted career highs as a senior with 22 receptions for 262 yards, including a career-high five catches in a win over No. 21 Oklahoma State. The Ennis, Texas, native enters Saturday having appeared in 39 career games while already owning a degree in human sciences.
RJ Turner: A graduate transfer from Louisana-Monroe, Turner quickly became one of the most reliable targets for Red Raider quarterbacks in his only season in Lubbock. He's turned in 478 yards of offense and two scores, including a 79-yard strike against TCU. His most impressive outing came against Baylor, where he tallied seven receptions for 138 yards, including a season-long 79-yard completion. Turner is on pace to eclipse the 500-yard receiving mark for the third-consecutive season, dating back to his time as a Warhawk. Turner earned his degree at Louisiana-Monroe prior to transferring to Tech. He is currently focusing on interdisciplinary studies in graduate school.
Jackson Tyner: A graduate transfer from Rice, Tyner has made multiple appearances for Tech on the year, including making his first start on the road in Norman against Oklahoma. Tyner played in 16 games for the Owls, posting a career-high 222 yards and a touchdown at Pitt. He was also a member of the Rice baseball program during the 2017 season, making five relief efforts on the year. Tyner earned his degree in sports management at Rice before transferring to Tech and is currently enrolled in graduate school.
Broderick Washington Jr.: Washington has been a model of consistency and dependability, as the Longview native has played in all 47 games since the start of his redshirt freshman campaign. His 36 starts are the most of any active players on the roster. He's recorded at least seven tackles in three games and has been selected as an All-Big 12 honorable mention twice in his career. He is on pace to break his own season record of seven tackles for a loss and could set a new mark for total tackles as well. Washington is a human sciences major.
Quentin Yontz: Yontz is concluding his third year in Lubbock after transferring from Fullerton College. Redshirted after a junior campaign in which he recorded nine tackles, including two for a loss, and started the last game of the year in the Birmingham Bowl against USF. He has racked up three tackles in his final year, including one in conference play against West Virginia. Yontz has graduated with his degree in university studies.
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