did you guys hear the Texas Rangers signed Jacob DeGrom? whoa, crazy.
it is Friday, let's Flare...
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WEEKLY CLICKS
...a quick list of links from the various stories posted on RRS this week
Texas Tech set for Texas Bowl date with Ole Miss
Notes on Texas Tech's 2024 commits to date
Grading the Red Raiders: Regular season review
OT Tyler Johnson talks Texas Tech commitment
Texas Tech commits and targets tracker: Week Fifteen
Tracking Former Red Raiders: Shannon's Hot Start at Illinois
Red Raiders continue homestand, welcome Nicholls on Wednesday night
Tipoff time announced for Big 12 opener between Texas Tech and TCU
Jaylon Tyson seen in walking boot, absent from warmups against Nicholls
Immediate reaction to Tech's win over Nicholls State from Mark Adams
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TTU RECRUITING THIS WEEK
this was a busy week on the recruiting trail, we have some updated rankings + new 2024 offers + new portal offers/visits to cover...
but to start, I wanted to highlight a few guys who announced they were returning to Texas Tech for their last season of eligibility - the big guys upfront, defensive tackles Tony Bradford Jr. and Jaylon Hutchings
Bradford is a leader, plain and simple. He is very active in the Lubbock community and does so much good in his various efforts. Both on and off the field, this is tremendous news for the program going into next season.
Hutchings is the same, these guys are close and often support some of the same organizations off the field. On the field, Hutchings was named to several second team All-Big 12 teams by various publications and is a difference maker on the Texas Tech defensive line.
having both of these guys back gives the program depth on the defensive line and provides two veteran leaders to help bring along the younger DL prospects
big win all together
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if I write a story about a prospect, then they receive a rankings update...it's just science
Johnson became the 5th Texas Tech 2023 four-star commitment in the Rivals rankings update released this week.
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the Texas Tech coaches hit the road to start the open contact period this past Sunday evening for in-home visits with 2023 commitments and were able to take in some Texas High School Football playoff games in the process
https://twitter.com/RivalsCole/status/1599126891511762944
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while the coaches were watching games, they identified a few 2024 targets and made new offers...
Jasper wide receiver Britain Simmons announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound prospect now holds offers from Texas Tech and Incarnate Word. Per his MaxPreps page, Simmons had 49 receptions for 768 yards and nine (9) touchdowns receiving through nine (9) games this season.
Duncanville athlete Caden Durham announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back now holds 16 offers from programs across the country, including offers from Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, TCU and others.
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As of this Monday, UTEP offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers was in the portal and receiving offers, including an offer from the Red Raiders earlier this week. Byers will take an official visit to Florida State this weekend, plus the All-Conference lineman holds offers from Penn State, Oklahoma, Missouri, UTSA, Miami, Maryland and Memphis. The Seminoles get the first official visit and we understand that Penn State and Oklahoma are players here.
Originally a 5.4 two-star defensive tackle in the 2019 recruiting class, Byers is from the Austin area and chose the Miners over offers from Abielene Christian, Grambling State, Howard, Incarnate Word, Prairie View A&M and Southern University.
*while we are discussing portal offensive lineman targets, make sure you checkout or have seen @B. Golan 's post from earlier this morning - re: portal visitor
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TEXAS BOWL vs. OLE MISS
the Red Raiders will face an 8-4 Ole Miss team in the TaxAct Texas Bowl
the Rebels finished the season with a 2-4 record in the last six games, the wins were at home against Auburn and on the road against A&M - both teams that were bad to very bad this season
to add onto the second half slide, head coach Lane Kiffin was rumored to takeover as the new head coach at Auburn for 2-3 weeks until it didn't happen and Hugh Freeze got the job...but smart money was on Kiffin at least negotiating/meeting with Auburn for a raise at Ole Miss, which he received
all that aside, McGuire and the Red Raiders have a primetime spot on ESPN later this month to showcase 'The Brand' and direction of the program
after two (2) straight losses to Baylor and TCU, getting to a bowl game seemed like a stretch, let alone finishing the season with three (3) straight wins and a 7-5 overall record, 5-4 in conference play and 4th place in the conference
the momentum is real and these additional bowl practices will lead to more improvement, more reps for this roster...it also gives the coaches plenty to discuss on the recruiting trail, and it is going noticed by 2024 prospects and there has been real momentum with new commitments
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other Big 12 Bowl Games
Baylor vs. Air Force - Dec. 22nd, 6:30pm (ESPN)
Oklahoma State vs. Wisconsin - Dec. 27th, 9:15pm (ESPN)
Kansas vs. Arkansas - Dec. 28th, 4:30pm (ESPN)
Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Florida State - Dec. 29th, 4:30pm (ESPN)
No. 20 Texas vs. No. 12 Washington - Dec. 29th, 8:00pm (ESPN)
No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Alabama - Dec. 31st, 11:00am (ESPN)
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 2 Michigan - Dec. 31st, 3:00pm (ESPN)
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BIG 12 RANKINGS - RECRUITING EDITION
Rivals Big 12 Recruiting Class Rankings
1. Texas - 21 commitments, 3.67 star average
led by five-star quarterback and No. 1 overall prospect Arch Manning, the Longhorns hold 12 other four-star commitments
2. Oklahoma - 22 commitments, 3.68 star average
led by five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold, the Sooners hold 13 other four-star commitments
3. Baylor - 23 commitments, 3.13 star average
led by four-star quarterback Austin Novosad, the Bears hold three (3) other four-star commitments
4. Texas Tech - 25 commitments, 3.16 star average
led by Rivals 250 four-star defensive end Isaiah Crawford, the Red Raiders hold four (4) other four-star commitments
5. TCU - 21 commitments, 3.29 star average
led by four-star wide receiver Cordale Russell, the Horned Frogs hold five (5) other four-star commitments
6. West Virginia - 20 commitments, 3.15 star average
led by four-star linebacker Josiah Trotter, the Mountaineers hold two (2) other four-star commitments
7. Kansas State - 22 commitments, 3.0 star average
in-state quarterback Avery Johnson is the lone four-star prospect in the Wildcats' 2023 class
8. Iowa State - 19 commitments, 3.05 star average
in-state quarterback J.J. Kohl is the lone four-star prospect in the Cyclones' 2023 class
9. Kansas - 12 commitments, 3.0 star average
the Jayhawks are taking a smaller class this year and have already landed some portal commitments, no four-star prospect in the 2023 class to date
10. Oklahoma State - 12 commitments, 2.42 star average
the Cowboys are taking a smaller class this year and have seen several players hit the portal this past week, so spots could open up, but no four-star prospect in the 2023 class to date
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have a great weekend everyone!
