2019 Football Roster
Roster
Zech McPhearson
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Columbia, Md.
- High School:
- Riverdale Baptist
2020 SEAS0N (SENIOR)
Developed into one of the top defensive backs in the country during his final season as a Red Raider … named to the captains circle in a vote by his teammates … among the Big 12 and NCAA leaders for interceptions and total takeaways crated … appeared in all 10 games with nine starts at cornerback … started in 21 of his 22 career games in his two season as a Red Raider … utilized as both a cornerback on the outside and in the Spur position throughout the season … ranked fifth on the team with 53 tackles, all while leading the Red Raiders with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries … became only the second Red Raider since 2000 to post four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season, joining J.J. Gaines (2015) … added a tackle for a loss and six pass breakups … found the end zone for the first time in his career as well with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown as well as another fumble recovery that went the distance … was second on the team with his six pass breakups, trailing only the 11 from DaMarcus Fields … recorded at least two tackles in all 10 games and five or more tackles in five games … led the team with 38 of his tackles coming on passing plays … three of his four interceptions came over the final four games of the season … responsible for four of Texas Tech’s five interceptions on the season and had a role in six of its nine takeaways overall … IN NCAA RANKINGS: ended the season tied for eighth in the FBS for total interceptions (4), tied for 12th in fumble recoveries (2) and 23rd for interceptions per game (0.4) … was one of four players nationally with at least four interceptions and two fumble recoveries and one of three from a power-five conference … IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: shared the conference high for fumble recoveries and ranked tied for third in both interceptions per game and total interceptions as well as fifth for passes defended (10) … was the lone Big 12 player to have four or more interceptions and at least two fumble recoveries … marked the 13th time in conference history for a player to reach both marks in a season … in conference games only, shared the league high for fumble recoveries (2) and ranked third in total interceptions (3), tied for fourth in interceptions per game and eighth in passes defended (8) … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: recorded his first interception of his career in the season opener versus Houston Baptist (9/12), picking off Jarrett Sterns in the end zone during the second quarter … added a season-low two tackles and a pass breakup in the win as well … followed with four tackles and a career-high two pass breakups in the Big 12 opener versus Texas (9/26) … matched what was his career high with six tackles at Kansas State (10/3) … broke that career high the next week, however, with 10 tackles … also recovered a fumble (that was forced by Eric Monroe) midway through the third quarter to give the Red Raiders their best field possession of the game … biggest play possibly of the season came midway through the first quarter as he scooped up a blocked field goal and raced 90 yards into the end zone for Texas Tech’s first touchdown … marked the first time a Red Raider had returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown since Lawrence Flugence went 79 yards to the end zone following an Aaron Hunt block in 2000 versus Oklahoma State … was the third blocked kick to be part of during his Red Raider career … found the end zone again the following week against West Virginia (10/24), sealing the win by bringing back a fumble recovery 56 yards for a touchdown … score broke a 27-27 tie with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter … came close to another double-digit tackle performance against Oklahoma (10/31) before finishing with nine, which included his third-career tackle for a loss … began a streak of three-straight games with both an interception and pass breakup at TCU (11/7) after picking off Max Duggan on the Horned Frogs’ first play of the game … interception came on a deep route into the end zone after TCU started the drive deep in Tech territory … marked the second-straight year a Red Raider had forced a takeaway on the opponent’s first offensive play as Douglas Coleman III picked off a pass at Kansas … picked off his third pass of the season in the third quarter against Baylor (11/14), returning it 20 yards to set up an eventual Red Raider touchdown that cut the deficit to 20-12 at the time … combined for nine tackles against TCU and Baylor with five coming against the Horned Frogs and four versus the Bears … peeled back for his final interception of the season on the first drive of the second half against Oklahoma State (11/28) … had seven tackles in the close loss to the Cowboys and then wrapped the season with three in the win over Kansas (12/5) … AWARDS AND HONORS: All-Big 12 first team selection by the conference coaches, Associated Press and Phil Steele Magazine … marked the third-consecutive year for a defensive back to garner first-team accolades by the conference coaches … tabbed a third team All-American by Pro Football Focus, which is based on the website’s grades and advanced statistics … named a first team All-Texas selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … chosen for multiple all-star games, some of which went to a virtual experience, namely the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, the East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl … only the Hula Bowl will feature an actual game, while the two others provided a virtual experience with NFL personnel … selected to participate in the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine (virtual experience) … recognized on the Hampshire Honor Society by the National Football Foundation for work in the classroom ... SENIOR DECISION: elected to forego his remaining eligibility following the season to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft ... 2021 NFL DRAFT: selected with the 123rd overall pick (4th round) by the Philadelphia Eagles ... became the 10th Red Raider all-time to be selected by the Eagles, joining the likes of cornerback Eric Everett (5th Round, 1988), linebacker Dwayne Jiles (5th Round, 1985), split end Calvin Jones (16th Round, 1975), defensive end Roger Gill (12th Round, 1963), offensive lineman Pat Holmes (3rd Round, 1963), fullback James Sides (13th Round, 1956), Bernie Winkler (30th Round, 1947), Charley Dvoracek (19th Round, 1942) and Texas Tech's first-ever draft selection Herschel Ramsey (6th Round, 1938) ... first Red Raider defensive back to be selected since Jamar Wall was taken in the sixth round of the 2010 draft by the Dallas Cowboys ... highest defensive back to be drafted since Darcel McBath was chosen in the second round of the 2009 draft ... was the first Big 12 cornerback to be selected in this year's draft and one of four from the conference to be selected overall.
2019 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Became a reliable presence in the secondary during his first season as a Red Raider … started in all 12 games at cornerback as only a junior … joined Douglas Coleman III, Broderick Washington Jr. and Eli Howard as the only Red Raider defensive players to start in every game of the season … was a key piece for the defense as well as on special teams … finished with a total of 51 tackles (42 solo), including 2.5 that went for a loss … broke up five passes in the secondary, sharing the team high with DaMarcus Fields … managed to block two kicks on special teams, becoming only the second Red Raider to do so since 2000 … joined current NFL standout Kerry Hyder, who also had two blocked kicks in 2013 … factored in the return game as well with three kick returns for 27 yards … recorded at least two tackles in all but one game and five or more tackles five times on the season … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: made his Red Raider debut with a tackle and pass breakup versus Montana State (8/31) … posted two tackles in the win over UTEP (9/7), which included an assisted takedown behind the line of scrimmage … snapped his career high with six tackles in the non-conference finale at Arizona (9/14) … performance included a tackle for a loss … matched his career high for tackles four more times on the season, notably in the next two weeks against Oklahoma (9/28) and Oklahoma State (10/5) … final tackle for a loss on the season came in the top-25 win over the Cowboys … broke up a pass against the Cowboys as well … was the first of three-consecutive games with a pass breakup after also getting his hand on a ball against both Baylor (10/12) and Iowa State (10/19) … finished with five tackles in the overtime loss to the Bears and then four the next two weeks versus the Cyclones as well as at Kansas (10/26) … blocked the first kick of his collegiate career against the Jayhawks, knocking down a Liam Jones extra-point attempt in the third quarter … marked the first blocked PAT attempt by a Red Raider since Terrance Bullit had one in the 2011 meeting between Kansas and Texas Tech … matched his career high again with six tackles in the win at West Virginia (11/9) … closed the home portion of the schedule with two tackles against TCU (11/16) and three takedowns and a pass breakup versus Kansas State (11/23) … ended the season with six tackles and a blocked kick in the finale at Texas (11/29) … snuck around the outside of the line to block a Cameron Dicker extra point following Texas’ first touchdown of the afternoon.
2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT PENN STATE)
Appeared in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions, registering eight tackles (six solo), including one for a loss ... saw action on both special teams and in the secondary ... broke up two passes on the year, which came against Kent State (9/15) and Illinois (9/21) ... previously set a new career high with four tackles at Pittsburgh (9/8), which included one for a loss.
2017 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT PENN STATE)
Saw action in 11 games as a redshirt freshman ... recorded eight tackles on the season to go along with a fumble recovery ... regular on special teams and in the secondary ... registered his first career tackle in season opener against Akron (9/2) ... notched a pair of tackles against both Georgia State (9/16), Nebraska (11/18) and Maryland (11/25) ... the Maryland performance also featured his first career fumble recovery, which was forced by his older brother, Josh ... named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
2016 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT PENN STATE)
Redshirt season.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Riverdale Baptist High School in Columbia, Md. ... one of the top prospects in the state of Maryland coming out of high school ... totaled 14 interceptions and 37 pass breakups over his prep career ... garnered Capitol Area District MVP honors as a senior ... also a first team All-State honoree by Maryland Pigskin that year ... earned team MVP honors as a senior and was named a team MVP ... gained more than 1,000 all-purpose yards during his junior and senior seasons, scoring 17 touchdowns during that span ... posted at least four interceptions in each of his varsity seasons as well ... rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN and 247Sports and a three-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout ... recognized as an ESPN 300 recruit, coming in at No. 129 nationally ... listed as the No. 6 recruit in Maryland and the No. 12 cornerback nationally by ESPN ... ranked No. 11 in Maryland and No. 32 nationally at cornerback at 247Sports ... named the top cornerback in Maryland by Scout and the No. 33 cornerback nationally ... ranked as the No. 19 prospect in Maryland and No. 39 cornerback in the nation by Rivals ... also a member of the school’s baseball program ... guided the Crusader baseball team to back-to-back National Association of Christian Athletes National Championships in 2014 and 2015 ... was six-time Honor Roll student.
PERSONAL
Zechariah McPhearson … born in Baltimore, Maryland ... son of Kim and Gerrick McPhearson ... comes from a family of successful athletes ... has six brothers, Gerrick Jr., Derrick, Emmanuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Josh as well as a sister, Kimberly ... his father played defensive back at Boston College and went on to play for the New England Patriots ... brother, Josh, was a runner back at Penn State (2015-17) ... another brother, Gerrick Jr., played football collegiately at Maryland and was selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft ... brother, Derrick, played football at Illinois and later minor league baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers organization ... other brother, Emmanuel, played football at New Mexico when Tech head coach Matt Wells was on staff ... brother, Jeremian, was a member of the football program at Indiana (Pa.), while Ezekiel was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks ... sister will be a soccer student-athlete at Wisconsin-Green Bay beginning this fall ... earned his degree from Penn State in labor and employment relations in only three years ... enrolled in graduate school at Texas Tech ... master's is in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on management, marketing and education.
CAREER HIGHS
Touchdowns, 1, twice, vs. West Virginia (2020)*
Tackles: 10, at Iowa State (2020)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0, three times, vs. Oklahoma (2020)*
Sacks: None
Interceptions: 1, four times, at Oklahoma State (2020)*
Fumbles Forced: None
Fumbles Recovered: 1, twice, vs. West Virginia (2020)*
Quarterback Hurries: None
Pass Breakups: 2, vs. Texas (2020)
Blocked Kick: 1, twice, at Texas (2019)*
* Indicates most recent high
