Texas Tech University Athletics
Shiel Wood named a finalist for prestigious Broyles Award
December 09, 2025 | Football
Texas Tech is among the nation’s defensive leaders this season under first-year coordinator Shiel Wood
LUBBOCK, Texas – Shiel Wood, the architect for Texas Tech's rise as one of the nation's top defenses, was named Tuesday one of five finalists for the prestigious Broyles Award, which celebrates the nation's top assistant coach. Â
This is the first time in Wood's career where he's been named a Broyles finalist as he was joined by three other fellow defensive coordinators in Bryant Haines (Indiana), Matt Patricia (Ohio State) and Corey Hetherman (Miami). Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo rounded out the list of finalists.
Wood has transformed the Texas Tech defense in less than a year after inheriting a unit that surrendered 34.8 points and 460.2 yards of total offense. Texas Tech currently ranks among the national defensive leaders, giving up only 10.9 points per game and 254.9 yards per game entering the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The Red Raiders currently lead the FBS in rush defense thanks to a front seven that is only allowing 68.5 yards per game on the ground. That average is on pace to easily be Texas Tech's lowest dating back to 1950 as the Red Raider have built a dominating front seven featuring All-Big 12 selections in defensive linemen Lee Hunter and A.J. Holmes Jr., outside linebackers David Bailey and Romello Height and then inside linebackers Jacob Rodriguez, Ben Roberts and John Curry.
The list of accolades for Wood's defense has also included a pair of national awards for Rodriguez, who has already been named the recipient of the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive player) in the past week. He and Bailey will be in Houston on Wednesday night as two of four finalists for the prestigious Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman or linebacker).
The Red Raiders are also the FBS leader with 31 takeaways this season entering an Orange Bowl matchup against either No. 5 Oregon or No. 12 seed James Madison. Rodriguez has flourished in this area, creating nine takeaways on his own during Big 12 play, becoming the first player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries all in the same season. In addition to his role as defensive coordinator, Wood is also Texas Tech's inside linebackers coach where he has pushed Rodriguez to his best season as a Red Raider.
Texas Tech is ranked third nationally in scoring defense after holding its opponents to single digits in five of the past six games, including a 34-7 victory this past Saturday against BYU in the Edward Jones Big 12 Championship. The Red Raiders are currently on pace for their lowest single-season scoring average since 1946 when Texas Tech gave up only 10.5 points over 11 games.
Texas Tech is the only team in the country to rank in the top five nationally for not only scoring defense and total defense but also total offense and total defense as Wood's side of the ball has paired nicely with a fellow new coordinator in Mack Leftwich. The result has pushed Texas Tech to a 12-1 record, marking the most wins in a season in school history.
The Broyles Award winner will be announced at the 30th-annual Broyles Award Ceremony on Feb. 12 at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The award is selected by a committee consisting of several Hall of Fame coaches, members of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and broadcasters.
