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Jersey Number 1
A.J. McCarty
- Position:
- Safety
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Brownwood, Texas
- High School:
- Brownwood
2025 SEASON (SENIOR)
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR)
2023 SEASON (JUNIOR)
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
HIGH SCHOOL
PERSONAL
- Key contributor again in the secondary for the Red Raiders as a senior … appeared in all 14 games as one of Texas Tech’s top defensive backs in coverage while also contributing to special teams … concluded his career with 28 games played as a Red Raider and 57 games played between his time at Texas Tech and Baylor.
- Recorded 20 tackles during final season (14 solo), including 2.0 that went for a loss … added a pass breakup and quarterback hurry as well as two blocked kicks from early in the season … had at least one tackle in eight different games with multiple stops in seven of those contests … was third on the team with three tackles on special teams (2 on kickoffs, 1 on punt coverage).
- Credited with 233 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus, which awarded him a 71.5 overall grade, the highest of his career … overall grade was impacted by a 73.2 grade in rush defensive and 71.6 grade in coverage, both career highs … credited with coming in off the edge to provide five pressures, according to PFF … publication also listed him with 18 targets in the passing game with 11 of those being completed but none for touchdowns.
- Added an additional 107 snaps on special teams, the bulk via kickoff coverage … marked the most special teams snaps since his 2021 season at Baylor … recorded 93 snaps on the kickoff team alone to go along with 13 on punt returns and one as part of the punt coverage unit.
- Combined for six tackles during non-conference play alien with two in the season opener versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8/30), three against Kent State (9/6) and one in the win over Oregon State (9/13) … got in the backfield twice to disrupt UAPB in the opening, dropping running back Za’Marion Webber for a four-yard loss early in the second quarter and then hurrying an incompletion on a blitz to start the fourth quarter … was the first of two tackles for loss on the season.
- Became the first Big 12 player to block multiple kicks in a game versus Kent State since Oklahoma State’ Korie Black did so in its 2023 season opener against Central Arkansas … the performance also marked the first time Texas Tech, as a team, had multiple blocked kicks in the same game since the Red Raiders traveled to New Mexico in 2010 … added his lone pass breakup of the season early in the second quarter as part of a 3-and-out drive by the Golden Flashes.
- His three tackles were one shy of his season high, which was set early in Big 12 play at Houston (10/4) … two of those tackles in the win over the Cougars came via kickoff coverage … final tackle of the game stopped a fourth-down attempt by the Cougars, giving the Red Raiders the ball back with 7:39 remaining … Texas Tech used 13 plays to run off the remainder of the clock from there.
- Other top performances on the season came via three tackles in the win over Oklahoma State (10/25) and two in back-to-back weeks to close the regular season against UCF (11/15) and at West Virginia (11/29) … final tackle for loss of the year came versus the Knights, which ultimately forced a UCF punt early in the second quarter.
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT JUNIOR)
- Became a regular starter in the secondary during second season as a Red Raider … appeared in all 13 games while making 11 starts at Texas Tech’s “star” position … started in all but the Iowa State road win and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Arkansas.
- Recorded 32 tackles on the season (20 solo), including 6.5 that went for a loss and a shared sack … ranked second on the team in tackles for loss, trailing only linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10.5) … had only one full tackle for loss over 30 career games at both Baylor and Texas Tech prior to the season … found his way into the backfield for at least a share of a tackle for loss in eight different contests.
- Added two pass breakups in the secondary to go along with two interceptions, both that came during Big 12 play … returned one of those interceptions for a touchdown, one of two pick-sixes by the Red Raiders on the season … marked his most-successful season in terms of interceptions after having only one in his career coming into the year … joined safeties C.J. Baskerville and Chapman Lewis as the three Red Raiders with multiple interceptions on the season.
- Credited with 560 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus, which ranked sixth on the team and fourth among members of the secondary … utilized on special teams with an additional 67 snaps, focusing primarily as part of the punt coverage and field goal block units … also saw time on occasion on the kickoff and punt return teams.
- Combined for eight tackles over the course of non-conference play with a season-high five stops in the overtime win over Abilene Christian (8/31) as well as one at Washington State (9/7) and two against North Texas (9/14) … performance against ACU included his first of two pass breakups on the season … one of his two tackles against North Texas went for a three-yard loss, which came on the final play of the opening quarter.
- Started Big 12 play with four tackles in the win over Arizona State (9/21), including a shared sack … combined with Amier Washington to get to Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt on 2nd-and-18, setting up a long third-down attempt, which was ultimately intercepted by C.J. Baskerville to close the Sun Devils’ opening drive of the game.
- Followed with three tackles and his first career interception as a Red Raider the next week in the win over Cincinnati (9/28) … picked off Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby early in the fourth quarter, racing 51 yards to the endzone to push the Red Raiders to a 41-27 lead … was the second interception of his career with both being pick-sixes inside Jones AT&T Stadium … had previously done the same as a member of Baylor’s program in 2022 against the Red Raiders … added a tackle for loss later in the fourth quarter, immediately sending Cincinnati backwards on the first play of its final drive, which ended with a missed game-tying field goal.
- Quiet the next two weeks with a tackle and pass breakup at Arizona (10/5) and another stop versus Baylor (10/19) … pass breakup versus the Wildcats came at an important time, stopping an Arizona 3rd-and-8 attempt to force a long field goal … the 48-yard field goal was missed on the next play as the Red Raiders drove the other side of the field to set up a successful Gino Garcia 41-yard field goal to take a 21-19 lead.
- Recorded at least a share of a tackle for loss in five of the final six games of the season, beginning with three stops at TCU (10/26) … combined with C.J. Baskerville to flush out a TCU rushing attempt for a two-yard loss on its final drive, setting up an eventual punt to give the Red Raiders the ball back with 29 seconds remaining.
- Picked off his second pass of the season the next week at Iowa State (11/2), which came midway through the second quarter to give the Red Raiders the ball near midfield … added one tackle in the road ranked win over the Cyclones.
- Matched his season high with four tackles in back-to-back games against Colorado (11/9) and at Oklahoma State (11/23) … recorded a solo tackle for loss in both outings as well as the regular-season finale versus West Virginia (11/30), finishing with two stops in that contest … closed the season with one tackle – which went for a one-yard loss – in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Arkansas (12/27).
2023 SEASON (JUNIOR)
- Redshirt season … ineligible during regular season due to NCAA transfer policies … … credited for being one of Texas Tech’s top players on scout team throughout the season.
- Made his Red Raider debut in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl victory over Cal … was part of the punt coverage unit against the Golden Bears.
PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
- Transferred to Texas Tech during the summer of 2023 following three seasons at Baylor ... experienced player who joined the Red Raider program having played in 29 career games with two starts ... arrived with two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders.
- Totaled 41 tackles (34 solo) over two full seasons, including 1.0 for a loss, to go along with an interception and four pass breakups … ironically, his lone interception came at Jones AT&T Stadium against the Red Raiders … credited with 455 defensive snaps during his two seasons, including 439 as a sophomore alone.
- 2022 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): played in all 13 games with two starts at cornerback … made 37 tackles, with one going for a loss, adding an interception and three pass breakups … made season debut with two tackles and a pass break-up versus Albany (9/3) in the season opener … had two tackles at No. 21 BYU (9/1) … made six stops against Texas State (9/17) and a season-high nine tackles at Iowa State (9/24) … broke up a pass and had two tackles in a win over Kansas (10/22) … made four tackles, broke up a pass and returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown against the Red Raiders (10/29) … had three stops at Oklahoma (11/5), one against No. 19 Kansas State (11/12) and three versus No. 4 TCU (11/19) … had a tackle in the regular-season finale at No. 23 Texas (11/25) and four stops in the Armed Forces Bowl against Air Force (12/22).
- 2021 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): saw action in 13 games during his first full collegiate season ... finished with three tackles, all solo stops, to go along with a fumble recovery and pass breakup … made the first pass breakup of his career early in the season against Texas Southern (9/11) … followed with a tackle in each of the next two Big 12 games at Kansas (9/18) and versus Iowa State (9/25) … other tackle on the season came in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss (1/1) … recovered a fumble late in the regular season at Kansas State (11/20) … saw significant action on special teams with 181 snaps, which was second on the team according to PFF … was primarily on Baylor’s kickoff return, punt return and punt coverage units.
- 2020 SEASON (FRESHMAN): made collegiate debut late in the season, appearing in three Big 12 games on special teams … inserted for the Kansas State (11/28), Oklahoma (12/5) and Oklahoma State (12/12) contests … recorded his first career tackle in the season finale against Oklahoma State (12/12).
HIGH SCHOOL
- Attended Brownwood High School in his hometown of Brownwood, Texas … an all-around contributor under head coach Sammy Burnett … helped push Brownwood to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the regional semifinals of the Class 4A Division I playoffs as a senior … two-way player as both a wide receiver and defensive back at the prep level.
- Recorded 44 receptions for 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior … also had 46 tackles and one interception with six breakups that same season … scored 25 touchdowns during his high school career ,,, was a three-time All-District honoree and was selected to the THSCA Academic All-State team.
- Posted 50 receptions for 757 yards and five scores as a junior in 2018 … was a first team All-District 5-4A selection at slot wide receiver as a junior … notched 40 receptions for 792 receiving yards with nine touchdowns as a sophomore in 2017 … named the District 3-4A Newcomer of the Year that season.
- A four-sport athlete at Brownwood, competing also in basketball, baseball and track and field … earned All-District honors in football, basketball and baseball … won the 2019 4A state triple jump title with a mark of 47-6.
- Received a Dave Campbell Texas Football ranking of No. 101 in Texas … ranked by 247Sports as No. 100 in Texas … ESPN’s No. 127 prospect in Texas for the 2020 class.
PERSONAL
- Adonis McCarty Jr. … goes by the nickname “A.J.” … son of Adonis and Melissa McCarty … has one brother, Quinten.
- • Earned his degree in university studies major from Texas Tech in Dec. 2024 ... enrolled in post-graduate classes during final season with the Red Raiders.
I Am: Jamond Mathis
Sunday, March 08
I Am: Jalen Jones
Saturday, March 07
I Am: Davin Martin
Friday, March 06
Joey McGuire Spring Football Preview Press Conference
Thursday, March 05
