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Latest on Amaro
We continue to hear that San Antonio (Texas) MacArthur tight end
Jace Amaro plans on making his decision between Texas A&M and Texas Tech
sometime within the next 24-72 hours. There's really not much else that we can
add that we haven't already reported -- all we would tell you is to stay tuned.
Lewis Planning April Visit
(Texas) Klein Oak defensive lineman
Jon Lewis, one of Texas Tech's top defensive targets, confirmed to RRS on Thursday that he will be
unofficially visiting the South Plains the week after the Red & Black Game.
"I was talking to Coach (Tommy) Mainord today, he was saying that he really
wants me to come down there," Lewis said. "He says that I would love Tech, he
said it's a really great school. He was just saying that I have a really good
chance to play there early, I don't know if he meant true freshman year. He said
I could play pretty early there. I was pretty pumped about that.
"He was saying that Coach (Tommy) Tuberville really wants to talk to me on the
phone, I'll be calling him soon. He really wants me to talk to him. He's really
excited for me to come down there and take a tour of Tech and see what it's
like."
Though Lewis will only be playing his second season at Klein Oak this fall, the
California transplant has multiple connections to the Red Raiders.
"I have an older brother, his name is Chris, he's a senior now (in high
school)," Lewis said. "He's going to be going there next year for college, so
that's pretty cool having them. Me and him are actually pretty close. I also
have a sister who was there for her first two years (of college) and then she
went back to California. She said it's a really great school. She said that
everyone there is cool and everyone there is pretty tight. She said it's a
really nice, nice place to be and a really big campus."
The 6-foot-2, 265-pound prospect also holds early offers from Alabama, Arizona,
Baylor, Michigan and Oklahoma State. Last week he listed a top three of Arizona,
Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, but there's been a slight change.
"I think Texas Tech, Alabama and Oklahoma State are the three schools that
really stand out to me, but I haven't been to any schools that have offered me a
scholarship," he said. "Hopefully I can go down there and visit."
Lewis listed the Red Raiders as the program recruiting him the hardest.
"They're always trying to keep in touch with me," he said. "They're always
sending mail, handwritten stuff from all of the coaches there. So, that,
basically lets me know that they're really psyched about me coming down there."
Marquez Visiting This Weekend
Odessa (Texas) running back
Bradley Marquez will be unofficially visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
following an early afternoon baseball game against Lubbock Monterey.
"It's been (in the works) for about a month now," he said. "They got my baseball
schedule and we just kind of worked around it and got it all together. I've been
to games and stuff, but this will be my first (visit) as a recruit."
Marquez's visit on Saturday will also mark the first time that he will meet the
majority of the Red Raider coaching staff in person.
"I've talked with most of them over the phone, but this will be my first time
meeting them in person," he said. "I can only expect things. I've been there
before, so I kind of know a little bit of what to expect, looking from the
outside, but actually being able to see the inside that's what I'm looking
forward to."
With the program's big junior day occurring last week, Marquez expects a more
one-on-one experience with Texas Tech's staff during his visit. He will likely
spend a lot of time with inside receivers coach Sonny Cumbie.
"He's great," Marquez said. "He asks me about family. I just talk to him as a
friend basically. Anything that's going on, whether it's my niece being born,
playing baseball, he keeps up with me. Most of the time I don't even have to
tell him, he'll just shoot me an e-mail, 'Heard you went 3-for-3 this game, good
job,' or if I go 0-3, he knows everything that's going on. That feels good."
Scouting Tony Morales
Below is a scouting report on Arlington (Texas) Sam Houston offensive lineman,
and Red Raider commit,
Tony Morales from someone who has been watching him play for more than two
seasons.
"Morales reminds me of Manny Ramirez. He's 6-foot-3, and a solid 300 pounds.
Powercleans 325. Very long arms. Runs well. Good basketball player and wrestler
-- undefeated last year in wrestling. He plays in a system that's almost
identical to what Neal Brown and Matt Moore are doing up front, so there
shouldn't be much of a learning curve there in terms of learning the offense."
Premium Q&A: DeAndre Washington
We spoke with Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall athlete
DeAndre Washington earlier this week and got his thoughts about Texas Tech's
junior day last weekend.
What did you think of your trip to the South Plains?
DW: "It was pretty cool up there. I like the coaching staff
they're real cool."
What position are they recruiting you to play?
DW: "An athlete like Reggie Bush. They want to get me in the
open field and also do some kick returns and punt returns."
Who from their staff is recruiting you?
DW: "Coach
(Chad) Scott. He's a real cool guy and down to earth. I love him. He feels like
a brother to me and I can really relate to him."
Did you meet any other coaches?
DW: "I met Coach Tuberville at the end of the day. He
called me into his office and told me how he wanted to use me in his offense.
Other than him I pretty much met all of the offensive coaches and talked about
different packages they wanted to put me in."
What did you think about the facilities?
DW: "They were great. While I was there a lot was under
construction. The stadium I can tell is going to be a great place to be at. With
the training facility there was also lots of construction but I can tell once
its done its going to be a sight to see."
What did you think about the scrimmage?
DW: "The offense looked real good. I was impressed with
offense. I heard it was the second day in full pads. It surprised me because the
offense made a lot of big plays and was clicking. The defense made some good
plays too."
Morales Is Very Familiar With Moore
There's an interesting back story to Tony Morales' commitment to Texas Tech that
we didn't learn about until we caught up with him a few days ago: he has spent
the last few years learning the Red Raiders' offense from instructional video
tapes featuring offensive line coach Matt Moore.
"My freshman year, we ran a totally different offense," Morales said. "Then our
head coach, Coach E (Edelman) came along, and he
wanted to put in the Tony Franklin system, the offense. He showed us some videos
of when Coach Moore was at Troy. We watched the videos and in it he (Moore) was
explaining how to block the defense, how to call the fronts and how to pick up
the blitzes."
Quick Hits
* Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy tight end
Bo Whitney, a 2010 prospect who unofficially visited Texas Tech last
weekend, has decided to accept a preferred walk-on spot with the Red Raiders. He
will join the team in time for fall camp and will be eligible this season.
* Aledo (Texas) 2012 running back
Jonathan Gray is expected to attend Texas' spring game on Sunday.
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This post was edited on 4/2 8:58 AM by A. Dickens
