CB Dontae Balfour meeting the challenge this fall camp
“A guy that really stood out to me was Dontae Balfour. Balfour, he is really having an incredible camp. I mean he is really physical, he’s long, I love watching him practice because he actually loves playing football. So he had another really good scrimmage.”
Those were the words of Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire on Saturday afternoon, following the Red Raiders’ first scrimmage of fall camp.
Initially a North Carolina signee in the 2021 class who transferred to Charlotte after two years in Chapel Hill, Balfour arrived at Texas Tech with high expectations after being named to the All-AAC Third Team in 2024. Though no games have been played yet, so far, so good.
“I feel like it’s the environment,” Balfour notes, on what’s helping him have such a strong camp. “We push each other every day around here, it’s never a moment when we relax. I have a great corners coach (Darcel) McBath, he pushes us every day and attention to detail. Technique, knowing formations, just pushing through bumps and bruises and being mentally tough.”
Balfour looking to help turn around Texas Tech’s secondary
By any metric Texas Tech’s defense was not good in 2024. The coaches identified the issues and brought in a wealth of talent on the defensive side of the ball, including Balfour.
He’s looking to help improve a secondary that allowed over 308 passing yards per game last season, second worst in the entire FBS only to Tulsa.
“We definitely take that personal, even though it was last year, but we’re not going to be the weakness of the defense. There’s no weakness of the defense. So we definitely take pride in that and to make sure that never happens.”
Part of helping the defensive improve will be Balfour but also his new teammates and coaches, which have done their part to welcome him in to the team and West Texas.
“It’s been great. The transition has been great. They brought me in like a family. We have great players on the offensive side, so we’re battling every day, which has made us better. So I appreciate them, and I just appreciate coach McGuire bringing me in and be able to play here.”
Balfour connecting with returner Mo Horn
Though Texas Tech brought in five (5) defensive backs via the transfer portal this offseason, one guy in the secondary who isn’t new to the team is cornerback Maurion Horn. After starting all 13 games as a sophomore, Horn trusted the process and chose to stay as a Red Raider, even though many in his position could have bolted for greener pastures.
Since arriving Lubbock, Balfour has developed a close relationship with Horn, as the pair is looking to elevate their games in 2025.
“Oh, we definitely work together. We give each other details and tips and stuff we experienced in the past. So it’s definitely been a good relationship between me and him.
Now it’s definitely time to elevate my game, to do more than what I’ve done in the past, and to take every day one at a time, and to improve the little things each day.”
Expect the defense to be much improved in 2025
Along with the new pieces in the secondary, Texas Tech also loaded up on the defensive line in the portal and returns the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in Jacob Rodriguez.
Balfour says fans should expect to see some big plays and specifically big hits coming from defenders wearing scarlet and black.
“I ain’t gonna lie, we got some crash outs. So I’ll say, because D-line, man, all of them. Like their pursuit, it gets scary. So probably J-Rod or Lee (Hunter), I’ll say that.
It definitely makes my job easier. I just got to play my technique and know what’s coming and the ball is gonna come out fast, no matter what.”
