Texas Tech University Athletics
Williams named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
October 27, 2025 | Football
J’Koby Williams became the seventh Red Raider to earn a Big 12 weekly award Monday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech sophomore running back J'Koby Williams was selected as the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following his two touchdown performance last weekend against Oklahoma State.
Williams put the Red Raiders on the board from the get-go Saturday as the sophomore returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in Texas Tech's 42-0 victory over Oklahoma State. It was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown for Williams and the first by a Red Raider since Drae McCray went 100 yards early in the 2023 season against Houston.
Williams, who broke a pair of tackles before outracing the Oklahoma State coverage unit, was also the first Red Raider to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown since Keke Coutee went 92 yards to the end zone versus Baylor in 2017. It is only the second kickoff return for a touchdown in a Big 12 game this year.
Williams gave the Red Raiders a 13-0 lead less than two minutes later as he took a swing pass from Will Hammond and sprinted 26 yards into the end zone. Williams, who had a team-leading 169 all-purpose yards in the win, finished with three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in the win to go along with four carries for 10 yards.
Texas Tech has been a regular recipient of the Big 12 weekly honors so far this season as Williams is the seventh Red Raider to be recognized already this year and the first to do so on special teams. Texas Tech has won one of the two defensive awards four different times this season, while fellow running back Cameron Dickey and quarterback Will Hammond were tabbed the top offensive player once each as well. Texas Tech's defensive line, meanwhile, has been tabbed the conference's top unit three times already.
The victory over Oklahoma State improved the Red Raiders to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play heading into a Saturday afternoon tilt at Kansas State. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan with coverage on FOX and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
