- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,211,715
- Reaction score
- 59
Eight new athletes will join the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame as the 2026 class was announced by the school on Thursday.
"Really a great class. I've really described this class in one word: humility," Will Culpepper, Director of Double T Varsity Club, said when announcing the class. "All the eight inductees we have going in, extremely humble as athletes, but also as we announce and get in touch with them and talk about it, very humble, extreme competitors, but all the conversations on the phone and face-to-face are just great."
Culpepper highlighted former Red Raider baseball player Eric Gutierrez as one of the most notable inductees for the class. Gutierrez earned the nod in his first year on the ballot.
"I think many of us as former athletes," Culpepper said, "Eric Gutierrez, one of the best ever to do it."
Here's the full 2026 class, which will be honored the weekend of the Sept. 26 home game against Sam Houston.
Adkins was one of the top high jumpers in Texas Tech history, joining the program in 2013 and earning third place in the Big 12 indoor and outdoor meets in his freshman campaign. Adkins placed fifth at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships and was twice a runner-up at the national indoor meet. The Idalou native was a four-time first-team All-American during his time as a Red Raider.
Carson was a three-team first-team All-American javelin thrower, earning national runner-up in both the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She tossed a personal-best 200 feet, 9 inches to break the Texas Tech record in her final throw as a Red Raider. Carson also became the first NCAA female athlete to throw both the javelin and discus at least 200 feet in the same season.
After establishing himself as a key contributor as a sophomore in 2004, Filani had a breakout year in 2005 where he caught 65 passes for 1,007 yards and 8 touchdowns to earn first-team all-Big 12 accolades. He followed that up with 91 catches for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, becoming the fourth Red Raider (and just the second receiver) to earn first-team all-Big 12 multiple times. Filani was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans and later served on the Texas Tech coaching staff under Matt Wells. He's currently the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Abilene Christian, Tech's first opponent for the 2026 season on Sept. 5.
Part of a heralded freshman class that arrived in 2013, Gutierrez showed out at the plate and in the field, earning a Gold Glove, Big 12 player of the year and first-team All-American (Baseball America) during his career. He was just the second Red Raider to earn the Big 12 POY and ranks among the tops in program history in at-bats (second), doubles, RBI and total bases (each third). Gutierrez just wrapped his eighth season on Texas Tech's coaching staff during the 2026 season.
Hinkle was just the second Texas Tech player to earn All-American status in program history, guiding the team to its first NCAA appearance, NCAA tournament win and appearance in the Round of 16 in program history. Hinkle was one of the first Red Raiders to appear for both the U.S. Youth National Team and Senior U.S. Women's National Team and led the team in assists three of her four years. Hinkle played parts of seven seasons in the NWSL after being taken seventh overall in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.
Parker brought a combination of speed and hitting ability that led her to be a four-year starter for the Red Raiders, starting her career at catcher before starring as a center fielder in her final three seasons. She was a four-time all-Big 12 selection, the only Red Raider to achieve that feat. Parker stole 78 bases throughout her career and tallied a .312 batting average with 200 hits throughout her career. She is currently the head coach at Harding University, having wrapped her fifth year at the helm in 2026.
Playing away from the spotlight on the offensive line, Vasquez became a staple in Texas Tech's offensive attack under the late Mike Leach. He was a three-time all-Big 12 selection, earning third-team All-American honors as a senior. Taken in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Vasquez enjoyed a seven-year NFL career, including a successful stretch with the Denver Broncos from 2013-15.
Young enjoyed a stellar four-year career with the Red Raiders, earning all-Big 12 honors three times and totaling 1,525 points, 407 assists, 173 steals and 343 rebounds in 108 games played. The Pampa native led the Red Raiders in steals for three seasons and led the team in scoring his junior and senior years. He's fourth in program history in steals and assists.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Eric Gutierrez, Rayford Young among Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame inductees
Continue reading...
"Really a great class. I've really described this class in one word: humility," Will Culpepper, Director of Double T Varsity Club, said when announcing the class. "All the eight inductees we have going in, extremely humble as athletes, but also as we announce and get in touch with them and talk about it, very humble, extreme competitors, but all the conversations on the phone and face-to-face are just great."
Culpepper highlighted former Red Raider baseball player Eric Gutierrez as one of the most notable inductees for the class. Gutierrez earned the nod in his first year on the ballot.
"I think many of us as former athletes," Culpepper said, "Eric Gutierrez, one of the best ever to do it."
Here's the full 2026 class, which will be honored the weekend of the Sept. 26 home game against Sam Houston.
Bradley Adkins, track and field (2013-16)
Adkins was one of the top high jumpers in Texas Tech history, joining the program in 2013 and earning third place in the Big 12 indoor and outdoor meets in his freshman campaign. Adkins placed fifth at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships and was twice a runner-up at the national indoor meet. The Idalou native was a four-time first-team All-American during his time as a Red Raider.
Hannah Carson, track and field (2013-16)
Carson was a three-team first-team All-American javelin thrower, earning national runner-up in both the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She tossed a personal-best 200 feet, 9 inches to break the Texas Tech record in her final throw as a Red Raider. Carson also became the first NCAA female athlete to throw both the javelin and discus at least 200 feet in the same season.
Joe Filani, football (2003-06)
After establishing himself as a key contributor as a sophomore in 2004, Filani had a breakout year in 2005 where he caught 65 passes for 1,007 yards and 8 touchdowns to earn first-team all-Big 12 accolades. He followed that up with 91 catches for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, becoming the fourth Red Raider (and just the second receiver) to earn first-team all-Big 12 multiple times. Filani was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans and later served on the Texas Tech coaching staff under Matt Wells. He's currently the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Abilene Christian, Tech's first opponent for the 2026 season on Sept. 5.
You must be registered for see images attach
Eric Gutierrez, baseball (2013-16)
Part of a heralded freshman class that arrived in 2013, Gutierrez showed out at the plate and in the field, earning a Gold Glove, Big 12 player of the year and first-team All-American (Baseball America) during his career. He was just the second Red Raider to earn the Big 12 POY and ranks among the tops in program history in at-bats (second), doubles, RBI and total bases (each third). Gutierrez just wrapped his eighth season on Texas Tech's coaching staff during the 2026 season.
Jaelene Hinkle, soccer (2011-14)
Hinkle was just the second Texas Tech player to earn All-American status in program history, guiding the team to its first NCAA appearance, NCAA tournament win and appearance in the Round of 16 in program history. Hinkle was one of the first Red Raiders to appear for both the U.S. Youth National Team and Senior U.S. Women's National Team and led the team in assists three of her four years. Hinkle played parts of seven seasons in the NWSL after being taken seventh overall in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.
Ashley Parker, softball (2004-07)
Parker brought a combination of speed and hitting ability that led her to be a four-year starter for the Red Raiders, starting her career at catcher before starring as a center fielder in her final three seasons. She was a four-time all-Big 12 selection, the only Red Raider to achieve that feat. Parker stole 78 bases throughout her career and tallied a .312 batting average with 200 hits throughout her career. She is currently the head coach at Harding University, having wrapped her fifth year at the helm in 2026.
Louis Vasquez, football (2005-08)
Playing away from the spotlight on the offensive line, Vasquez became a staple in Texas Tech's offensive attack under the late Mike Leach. He was a three-time all-Big 12 selection, earning third-team All-American honors as a senior. Taken in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Vasquez enjoyed a seven-year NFL career, including a successful stretch with the Denver Broncos from 2013-15.
Rayford Young, men's basketball (1996-2000)
Young enjoyed a stellar four-year career with the Red Raiders, earning all-Big 12 honors three times and totaling 1,525 points, 407 assists, 173 steals and 343 rebounds in 108 games played. The Pampa native led the Red Raiders in steals for three seasons and led the team in scoring his junior and senior years. He's fourth in program history in steals and assists.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Eric Gutierrez, Rayford Young among Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame inductees
Continue reading...
