Spring Break
Orakpo-Reed matchup highlights Longhorn, Red Raider trenches
Alex Ybarra
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: College Gameday
From one weight room-loving lineman to another, Texas Tech left tackle Rylan Reed welcomes the incoming competition Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo brings.
"He benches what? 510 pounds? That's not normal," Reed said of Orakpo, who leads the Big 12 Conference with 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. "So I mean he kind of possesses everything. You gotta watch speed. You gotta watch bull rush, spin moves. You gotta watch everything. He's an all-around player."
It's ironic how the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Reed, who bench pressed a Tech record 625 pounds this past summer, is calling someone else's bench press abnormal. However, he may have a point considering Orakpo's size. The Houston native is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and can bench 515, squat 600 and power clean 380 pounds.
"I tell you what, it's gonna be a good little match up," said Reed, whose No. 6 Red Raiders play No. 1 UT at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. "There's gonna be a lot of muscle out there on the field, so we'll see what happens."
UT's senior defensive end, known as "Osackpo" to his teammates, leads the Longhorns' dominant defensive line against Tech's massive, nearly impenetrable offensive line.
The match up in the trenches almost seems like destiny.
Texas ranks second in the nation with 29 sacks, and Tech ranks second in sacks allowed, with three in a span of 391 passing attempts.
Reed said this UT defensive line presents the toughest challenge of the season for the Red Raiders front five.
Reed, better known as "Incredible Hulk," and Orakpo, who goes by "Osackpo," will highlight one of the more exciting matchups in a game filled with playmakers.
"I'm still studying the way he plays," Orakpo said. "He's a phenomenal player, phenomenal tackle, phenomenal blocker, but I'm still studying his habits and his blocking techniques."
This seasonw, Orakpo has blossomed into the versatile, game-changing defensive end UT always thought he could become. Last season, Orakpo was on his way to fulfilling that potential before a chop block against Arkansas State in the first game of the season injured his knee, causing him to miss the next four games.
"He benches what? 510 pounds? That's not normal," Reed said of Orakpo, who leads the Big 12 Conference with 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. "So I mean he kind of possesses everything. You gotta watch speed. You gotta watch bull rush, spin moves. You gotta watch everything. He's an all-around player."
It's ironic how the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Reed, who bench pressed a Tech record 625 pounds this past summer, is calling someone else's bench press abnormal. However, he may have a point considering Orakpo's size. The Houston native is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and can bench 515, squat 600 and power clean 380 pounds.
"I tell you what, it's gonna be a good little match up," said Reed, whose No. 6 Red Raiders play No. 1 UT at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. "There's gonna be a lot of muscle out there on the field, so we'll see what happens."
UT's senior defensive end, known as "Osackpo" to his teammates, leads the Longhorns' dominant defensive line against Tech's massive, nearly impenetrable offensive line.
The match up in the trenches almost seems like destiny.
Texas ranks second in the nation with 29 sacks, and Tech ranks second in sacks allowed, with three in a span of 391 passing attempts.
Reed said this UT defensive line presents the toughest challenge of the season for the Red Raiders front five.
Reed, better known as "Incredible Hulk," and Orakpo, who goes by "Osackpo," will highlight one of the more exciting matchups in a game filled with playmakers.
"I'm still studying the way he plays," Orakpo said. "He's a phenomenal player, phenomenal tackle, phenomenal blocker, but I'm still studying his habits and his blocking techniques."
This seasonw, Orakpo has blossomed into the versatile, game-changing defensive end UT always thought he could become. Last season, Orakpo was on his way to fulfilling that potential before a chop block against Arkansas State in the first game of the season injured his knee, causing him to miss the next four games.
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