Wisniewski locked in: growth, grit & big goals
When the dust settled on Texas Tech football’s wave of incoming transfers, one name seemed to quietly slip under the radar: safety Cole Wisniewski.
With big additions like Lee Hunter, Skyler Gill Howard, Howard Sampson, Brice Pollock, Dontae Balfour, and late arrival David Bailey grabbing most of the headlines, it’s understandable why Wisniewski’s name hasn’t been at the forefront. But that doesn’t mean his impact will be minor. In fact, Wisniewski has the potential to be one of the more pivotal pieces in this transfer class — a player whose contributions could quietly shape the Red Raiders’ defensive identity moving forward. He also spoke with the media following fall practice No. 6, offering insight into his transition and early impressions of the team.
How have you been acclimating to West Texas and to Texas Tech practices?
“Yeah, it’s good. I think our style of practice is very much a pro‑style approach — probably fewer total team reps, but a lot more situational work, which makes it fun. The other big adjustment has been the heat. It’s definitely different from North Dakota. There’s probably a bit more humidity up there, but I can’t say I’ve been through too many 98‑degree practices in my life.”
Handling practices in the heat
“Oh, I mean, good. I think the coaches do a great job of protecting us, and you just kind of get acclimated to it over time. We’re here all summer, so it’s not like we’re going from a 70‑degree day straight into a 98‑degree practice. We’ve been out in the heat during runs and workouts, so by the time practice rolls around, we’re pretty used to it. Grad school helps, too. Plus, we’re staying hydrated and getting breaks when we need them.”
Improvements under coach Rob Greene
“I think there’s so much that coach Greene brings as a coach that really helps me. He’s all about the small details — things like leverage, breaking on certain routes, and playing with the right depth in different situations. It’s those little tweaks that change based on the down, the personnel, or what the offense is showing.
Sometimes the offense is going to have you schemed up, and I’m the type of player who never wants to give up a catch or get beat on anything. He helps me realize that sometimes that’s just not what the call is designed for, and if we want to win that rep, we’ll adjust with a different call. It’s about trusting what he’s coaching. I think he does a great job of making things simple and allowing us to play fast.”
What have you seen out of Behren Morton
“Yeah, a ton. Behren is an exceptional quarterback. Now that he’s 100% and can really sling it without having to think about pain, you can see how confident he is out there. One thing he does really well is recognizing things pre‑snap — very quickly. We’ve talked about it because I like to disguise and mess with quarterbacks a little, but with him, it doesn’t work. Even if I’m disguised perfectly, he reads the other guys and figures it out.
The zip he has on his throws is impressive. He gets the ball where it needs to be fast, which makes it tough to make a play on it. His ball placement is also really good. There was one throw yesterday where I had done a good job keeping depth to play two routes, and he still put it in a spot only his guy could make a play. He’s very savvy, has played a lot of football, and seen a lot of things. I’m really excited to see what he does, and I’m glad he’s on my team.”
Camaraderie within defense
“I think it’s really, really good, to be honest with you — from all three levels. It’s a lot of fun. The other day, Lee and I were walking out of practice together, and he was like, ‘Hey, good job, Five. Good job, Five. Should’ve been Four, but we’ll go with Five.’ Just little stuff like that.
Another example — I didn’t have a car jack in the back of my car the other day, and Skyler Gill Howard had one. He popped the trunk, and while I was getting my tire changed, Lee came over and helped out, too. It’s just funny, small moments like that.
It’s becoming a really tight‑knit team. Guys are constantly joking with each other, but more importantly, they genuinely want the best for one another. When you have 45 or 50 guys all wanting the best for each other, that’s when you really start to see success. And I think that’s really starting to show.”
Biggest stadium you have played in capacity wise
“The biggest stadium I’ve played in was U.S. Bank Stadium, which holds around 65,000, and that was pretty awesome. But the most I’ve actually played in front of is probably around 30,000. Really cool place, beautiful field.”
Playing in dome at NDSU
“It was really cool. The way the dome is set up — the super tight sidelines, the fans right next to you — makes for such a unique environment. The capacity is just under 20,000, but the stands go straight up, almost vertical. You go out there and feel like a gladiator because everything is right on top of you.
When I came on my visit, it even felt like you could fall off the stairs walking up some of them. On game day, it’s awesome — especially when we kicked off to the south end zone with the band, the student section, and all the freshmen right there in the front row, just chirping at the other team. It felt like every home game started with a penalty on the opposing offense. It’s a really cool, super loud environment where the noise just can’t escape. Very fun.”
