Texas Tech announces signing of Steve Linton

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire announced Tuesday the signing of transfer outside linebacker Steve Linton, who will join the Red Raiders ahead of the start of the spring semester.

Linton will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders after beginning his career at Syracuse where he was utilized as both a defensive end at outside linebacker. He will play a similar role for a Red Raider defense that ranked 19th in the country with 7.0 tackles for loss per game this past season.

“We’re thrilled to add another key piece to our defensive front with Steve,” McGuire said. “Our program will always be built in the trenches, and his size and ability will be a great addition to an already-talented outside linebackers room. We look forward to him joining us immediately for the spring semester.”

Linton appeared in 29 games over his Syracuse career where he made 45 tackles (26 solo), including 8.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks, to go along with a pass breakup, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He is coming off his best season with the Orange as he totaled 22 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries as well as a forced fumble and two recoveries over 11 games and one start.

A native of Dublin, Georgia, Linton was one of the top signees of the 2019 class out of Dublin High School where he was a Class 2A All-State selection as both a defensive end and tight end as a senior. He logged 161 tackles and 30 sacks over his high school career, ranking among the top-35 weakside defensive ends by Rivals for his class.

Linton joins a Texas Tech signing class that already ranks in the top 25 in college football. For a full list of Texas Tech’s signing class, please visit here.

–TECH–

Matt Dowdy