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Season set to start for Richards
One thing that Texas Tech knows they will be getting out of Jackson
Richards on the field is consistent effort. Every time he snaps on the
helmet, he brings 100-percent and leaves it all on the field.
The same could be said for Richards whenever he does interviews. Every question
about his personal life is answered with a focus on his team.
For example, how was the off-season for Richards?
"Our goal every year is to get bigger, faster and stronger. The group that
trains us and works us out did a good job."
We can tell you that Richards is currently checking in at 6-foot-4, 245-pounds.
"I lost a little bit of weight at the start because there was probably some fat.
I gained it back by the end though."
At the start of the summer, Richards was maxing out on squat at about
450-pounds. By August, he hit 500. His bench is now up to around 340-pounds and
he can hit 315 for a good four reps.
All this work is for one reason: the game of football. It all starts for the
last time in Richards’ high school career when Southlake goes up against Plano
West on Saturday (4:30 p.m. at SMU's Gerald Ford Stadium).
"They’re a great team. They did well in their first scrimmage. They’re going to
be real challenging and we’re going to have to do our best to give up a good
fight and hopefully in the end we’ll be able to come out with it."
When asked how big this game is, Richards didn’t bite on the question.
"It’s the biggest game since the last game."
Though big games are nothing new to Richards, who plays for one of the most
successful high school teams in Texas state history, there’s still a few first
game jitters that are rattling around within the big man.
"It’s definitely nerve wracking. I’m going to try to clam myself. I had surgery
last year and it took me about three drives to really think about what I was
doing. Every year, the first game you’re getting back into it and by the second
game it’s all done and you’re ready to go. There are some jitters and we’re
going to do our best to stay calm. I think we’ll be fine about that. I’m not
worried about us being too wired up or anything."
As far as his team goes, Richards has the same expectations that he has every
year.
"We’ve had a great off-season and good spring ball. I don’t guarantee any games
but I know we’re going to go out and I guarantee we’re going to play our
hardest. We have a physical team and we have really good camaraderie. Hopefully
that will take us as far as we’d like to go. We’re going to take it one game at
a time. I have a lot of confidence in the offense and everyone on the defense. I
just hope that we can have a good year."
Through it all, it’s nice for the 2010 standout to know where he’s going to
attend college.
"It was like this last year, too. It’s just easy. We have a lot of guys that got
that out of the way and have already committed so we’ll have a lot less
distractions."
While Richards doesn’t want to focus on the Red Raiders until he actually gets
to Lubbock for good, he openly admits that it’s the close relationship with the
coaching staff that means so much to him.
"That was one of the biggest things that got me to commit to Tech so early. Tech
compared to any other college has a great family atmosphere. Coach Ruff is
someone I can see myself playing for and Tech is a place I can see myself
playing. There’s no ifs and buts, that’s where I’m going."
As far as when Richards is going to go take a weekend to the West Texas, a date
has not yet been set.
"I have not had an official visit yet. I’d like to take it for the A&M game but
I don’t exactly know when that’s going to be. It all depends on what our
schedule and their schedule looks like. The A&M game is the one I’d like to go
to the most."
While Richards hasn’t had a chance to contact many of the commitments with
Tech’s 2010 class, he has been keeping any eye on it.
"Even though I say I’m not paying attention, I really am looking at who my
future teammates are going to be. So far everyone they have gotten seems really
impressive and I’m excited to play with all of them."
Top three for Scott?
We’ve had several conversations with four-star shooting guard
Rickey Scott over the last couple of months but have been as revealing
as our latest.
On Wednesday, he discussed how all of the phone calls is really getting old and,
for the first time, we got the feeling that he could end this thing in time for
the early signing period.
The Irving MacArthur product was straight forward enough to give us a final
seven. He quickly named off Arkansas, Missouri, Marquette, Baylor, Texas Tech.
We reminded him that was exactly five and asked if he’d be considering any
others.
"Oh, and SMU," he said. "I also might include Oklahoma but they haven’t offered
me."
Since that talk with Scott, we’ve learned that Oklahoma is no longer in the
picture. It seems they’ve pulled their name out of the hat in the Scott
sweepstakes. We also do not believe that he’ll include the Mustangs in his top
five, which would mean it will contain the above mentioned.
As far as Texas Tech in concerned, Scott continued to reiterate that he will
visit Lubbock on an official visit. His parents have still not seen the campus
and he wants them to get a good idea of what life as a Red Raider is like.
"I like the football team at Tech, the facilities, the coaches and how much they
show me love. I really like the players, too."
While the Red Raiders are listed in his top five, we didn't didn't feel great
about their chances once we hung up the phone. It wasn’t necessarily because of
anything mentioned; it had more to do with his response when we asked about his
favorites out of the five.
Scott had no problem responding with his top three, which included Arkansas,
Marquette and Missouri.
"I like Arkansas because of the way that they play their guards. With Missouri,
I like their full court pressure. That’s what I like to do. I like to play a
three man defense. Marquette is a Dwyane Wade school and I would love being a
part of that. It’s in the Big East so I think I’d be playing against future pros
every night."
Scott’s been to Arkansas once and had yet to visit Marquette (there this
weekend) and Missouri when he answered the question about his top three.
Something to watch for: when/if Scott officially visits Lubbock, his parents'
reaction and input will be huge.
Raiders still have a shot with Morgan
As we explained in the update earlier this week, the Red Raiders have been on
Las Vegas (NV) small forward Moses Morgan for quite some time.
A lot of it has to do with the personal relationship that Texas Tech has with
Morgan and his family.
"My dad played with Stew Robinson when they were at Indiana. Stew and I have a
good relationship and he has a great relationship with my father. We have a
great relationship with Coach [Pat] Knight as well. "
While Morgan has a top five that does not currently include Texas Tech, Morgan
still says that they have a shot. He only has two dates scheduled (Arizona State
and Indiana) and beyond that, Morgan could switch things up.
"The last three I told you (Georgetown, OU, DePaul) aren’t set visits yet. I
might visit Texas Tech, I don’t know yet."
While the 6-foot-5, 208-pound forward is still trying to finalize all of his
visit plans, he will continue to consult with his father.
"I’m going to sit down and talk to my dad. He and I have been talking about it
almost every day. We’re trying to make the best decision for me on schools I’m
going to visit. Those two we know for sure would be good for me."
The Red Raiders are still calling Morgan once a week, which is the NCAA maximum.
Since they are continuing to hit up Morgan hard, we wouldn’t count them out
completely until he sets up his other three trips.
Clarkson making the Big 12 South rounds
Converse (TX) Wagner SG Jordan Clarkson has quickly become the
talk of hoops in the Big 12 South. Though only one of the division's programs
has offered him (Texas Tech), he is quickly making the rounds. The 6-foot-3,
180-pound prospect took an unofficial visit to Texas earlier this month, and
recently returned from another in-state official.
"Last Wednesday, I took an unofficial to Texas A&M, and they offered me down
there," he said.
Clarkson said the attention he is getting from the Big 12 is showing him that
his hard work is really starting to pay off, and he said he is excited to get
offers from schools such as Tech and A&M.
"I think really highly of them," Clarkson said. "They are in a good conference
and everything, so that’s really exciting for me."
After the few unofficial visits Clarkson has taken, he admitted that he has many
more visits to plan and take.
"I’m about to sit down with my mom in a little bit and get all my visits set up,
Clarkson added. "I know this Friday, I’m going to Tulsa, and after that I don’t
know what I’m going to do.
Clarkson then said that coaches from Texas Tech have contacted him about
possibly attending a football game this season, and when asked if he would be on
the Texas Tech campus this fall for that, Clarkson said, "Yes sir, definitely."
With all the attention surrounding Clarkson this year, he seems to be taking it
in stride. Clarkson said what he is really looking forward to this year is
basketball season. He said his goals for this year are to get back to state,
have a good year and finish strong. Until the season starts Clarkson said he has
just been working on his game.
"Just working out with a guy that I know, Clarkson explained. "That’s about it
really, and going to open gym with the guys."
As for a top school, Clarkson said he has not made a list of his favorites yet,
but will be doing so throughout the year.
No, not at this point, Clarkson said in response to whether he has named a top
school, or list of schools. "Right now we are still in the process."
Premium Q&A: 2010 OL target Javius Townsend
What are your goals for your senior year?
JT: "My goals is just to be successful. Just push myself
harder than I’ve ever done before to get this dream over here that we have
completed, accomplished rather."
Have you scheduled an official to Texas Tech?
JT: "Yeah, I scheduled an official."
What are your thoughts about the Red Raiders?
JT: "Texas Tech has the exact same offense that we have, so I
wouldn’t have to learn nothing new, except for learning their plays. I wouldn’t
have to change my 2-point to a 3-point, or nothing like that. I would just go in
and do the same stuff that I’m doing now. It’s a really good one, a great
program, rather."
When is that visit planned for?
JT: "I’m not sure; I haven’t picked which game I want to go to
yet."
Anyone you are really looking forward to seeing this fall?
JT: "Yeah, but no. The people that have offered by now, they
were there first. Like, North Texas was my first offer, so I cant cancel them
out because they believed in me first."
To view previous installments of the Red Raider Confidential, you can visit the
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This post was edited on 8/28 9:00 AM by A. Dickens
