The most decorated defensive player on the 2025 Texas Tech football team was linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who won a new shelf’s worth of trophies from national awards. The most accomplished pass rusher was edge defender David Bailey, who was selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft that started on Thursday, April 23.
Even so, Romello Height was too good to ignore.
Height, who played the edge opposite Bailey this past season and finished fourth in sacks in the Big 12, landed with a new team on Friday, April 24. The San Francisco 49ers chose Height early in the third round, using the 70th overall pick.
Here’s what 49ers fans need to know about Height.
What Texas Tech football’s Romello Height brings to the San Francisco 49ers in 2026 NFL Draft
Height was something of an underachiever with only 6 ½ sacks over five seasons at Auburn, Southern Cal and Georgia Tech. Texas Tech, in Height’s lone season with the Red Raiders, turned the tools into production as Height delivered 9 ½ sacks for the Big 12 champions. He and David Bailey terrorized quarterbacks, pinching the pocket from opposite edges. Height turned 25 on April 13, but being older than most draftees apparently didn’t hurt his stock.
Romello Height’s highlights, strengths, weaknesses with Texas Tech football
Height finally came into his own last season after carrying four-star recruit status coming out of a Georgia high school in 2020. At 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds, and with an athletic, high-cut physique he could pass for a skill-position player. At the NFL combine, his 39-inch vertical jump and 10-5 standing broad jump were among the top five for edge players.
He’s fast off the snap but will need to refine his technique to overcome his size limitations and beat the best tackles at the next level. He might not be an every-down player but could fit in early as a third-down rush specialist.
Romello Height’s stats with Texas Tech football
∎ Credited with 38 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss with 9 1/2 sacks.
∎ First-team all-Big 12 by coaches, second team by media.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 49ers pick Texas Tech OLB Romello Height in NFL draft: Highlights, stats
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
