Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Signs McPhearson to Bolster Secondary
April 16, 2019 | Football
Zech McPhearson signed with Texas Tech after two seasons at Penn State
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells added depth to his secondary Tuesday as Penn State transfer Zech McPhearson signed an athletic scholarship agreement with the university.
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McPhearson will graduate from Penn State with a degree in labor and employment relations this May and enroll at Texas Tech a few weeks later in time for summer workouts. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after earning his undergraduate diploma in only three years. Â
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McPhearson was a regular in the secondary and on special teams the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions, appearing in 24 games where he totaled 16 tackles, three pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Penn State played in both the Fiesta and Citrus Bowls in his two seasons of action.
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McPhearson, who primarily played cornerback for the Nittany Lions, signed with Penn State in 2016 as a four-year prospect out of Riversdale Baptist School in Maryland. He recorded 14 interceptions and 37 pass breakups over his high school career, collecting first team All-State as a senior.
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The Columbia, Maryland native is the youngest of seven brothers, all of which went on to play college football or professional baseball. In fact, Wells was on staff for McPhearson's brother, Emmanuel, in 2010 when he was the wide receivers coach at the University of New Mexico.
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McPhearson is the second defensive back to sign with Tech over the past week after high-school prospect Dequanteous Watts signaled his commitment last Tuesday (April 9). Wells and his staff have now signed four defensive backs that will join the Red Raiders in June.
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McPhearson will graduate from Penn State with a degree in labor and employment relations this May and enroll at Texas Tech a few weeks later in time for summer workouts. He will have two years of eligibility remaining after earning his undergraduate diploma in only three years. Â
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McPhearson was a regular in the secondary and on special teams the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions, appearing in 24 games where he totaled 16 tackles, three pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Penn State played in both the Fiesta and Citrus Bowls in his two seasons of action.
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McPhearson, who primarily played cornerback for the Nittany Lions, signed with Penn State in 2016 as a four-year prospect out of Riversdale Baptist School in Maryland. He recorded 14 interceptions and 37 pass breakups over his high school career, collecting first team All-State as a senior.
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The Columbia, Maryland native is the youngest of seven brothers, all of which went on to play college football or professional baseball. In fact, Wells was on staff for McPhearson's brother, Emmanuel, in 2010 when he was the wide receivers coach at the University of New Mexico.
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McPhearson is the second defensive back to sign with Tech over the past week after high-school prospect Dequanteous Watts signaled his commitment last Tuesday (April 9). Wells and his staff have now signed four defensive backs that will join the Red Raiders in June.
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