Friday can only mean one thing for the discriminating Red Raider fan.
It's time for another edition of the Red Raider Confidential! The ground rules
are simple and easy to follow: everything reported in this report is not to be disclosed elsewhere. This feature is posted in the premium forum to ensure that this information stays exclusively within the
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Tech early leader for sophomore RB
Last week's U.S. Army All-American Game gave the folks at Rivals.com - including
our very own Armen Williams - a great chance to get an up-close and personal
view at some of the top 2010 prospects in the country as they flocked to San
Antonio for the Junior Combine. And while the majority of the players
participating were juniors, a handful of sophomores were present as well.
Including Pflugerville (TX) Hendrickson running back
Kenny Williams, who was wearing a Texas Tech beanie when he checked
into the Rivals.com station.
"Texas Tech," he responded, when asked if he had an early favorite. "I like
their coaching style. I like the way they run stuff. That's pretty much the
first college I've ever known about. My dad went there."
Williams grew up a Red Raider fan, and plans to attend a Texas Tech Football
Camp this summer. It will be interesting to see how he performs at the camp, as
his skill-set is slightly different than the running backs that Mike Leach has
recruited in the pass.
"I'm a power back, but I have good speed. I will use my power against you, I'll
juke you or outrun you."
Hendrickson, which is in the same district as Class 4A Division I champion Lake
Travis, made it's deepest playoff run in the school's five-year history this
season, losing to Kerrville in the Class 4A regional final. Williams' 2008
campaign was equally successful, as the 5-11, 206-pound prospect rushed for over
1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
Williams is not currently receiving mail from Texas Tech, but does have letters
from Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma.
Baker's commitment 'pretty strong'
Waco (TX) Connally
offensive lineman
Troy Baker was the second 2010 prospect to verbally commit to Texas
Tech, and has always maintained that he will be keeping an open mind throughout
the process to ensure that he spends the next four to five years of his life in
the right place. And, with more than a year until he has to sign on the dotted
line, he will certainly have plenty of opportunities to investigate other
potential options.
But it seems as if Red Raider fans don't have as much to be concerned with as
originally thought.
"I'm verbally committed to Tech," said Baker in San Antonio last week. "It's
pretty strong (his commitment), it's looking like that's where I could go. I've
been a big fan [of Tech] for a long time because my brother graduated from
there. When I got offered, I jumped on it."
As more and more schools put bows on their 2009 classes and start focusing on
2010, Texas Tech and Baylor may find themselves with company on Baker's offer
list. He's heard from nearly every Big 12 school, with Kansas and Oklahoma State
are indicating that they are close to offering him.
Baker won't have any problem qualifying, and if things work out as planned he
could even get a head start on his collegiate football career.
"I'm graduating next December," he explained. "I'm taking classes right now over
the Christmas break in mini-mesters to make it happen. I'll be enrolling next
January.
"One of the main things is that, academically, I could possibly get a master's
degree if I work hard enough. That would be a good thing for me to have as a
backup. Also, being in the college level for that spring will benefit me, I
think it'd be an easier transition."
2010 quarterback target in the Vol State?
With two 2010 quarterbacks holding offers -
Zach Lee and
Scotty Young - the Red Raiders will likely wait until one or both
of them decide before moving down the list. But the evaluation process still
continues, and it seems as if Texas Tech is leaving no stone unturned in their
efforts to find their quarterback of the future.
Enter Memphis (TN) University School gunslinger
Barry Brunetti, who led his team to a perfect 13-0 record and a
state championship as a junior. His performance at the U.S. Army All-American
Junior Combine was almost as spotless, as he impressed with his arm strength,
release and frame. According to Rivals.com Recruiting Analyst Barry Every,
Brunetti "threw the prettiest deep balls of any quarterback that participated in
the event."
No offers yet for the 6-2, 210-pound signal caller, but he's hearing from a
veritable who's who of college football: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Ohio
State, West Virginia, Oregon and Texas Tech.
"Tennessee and Georgia are close to offering, I think," he said. "I'm going to
go down to Texas Tech this summer and I'm going to talk to them. I also think
that West Virginia and Oregon are close to offering."
The Red Raiders' involvement can be credited to Dennis Simmons, who has greatly
expanded the program's recruiting efforts in Tennessee.
"[Texas Tech] got involved after the third game of the season," explained
Brunetti. "I got a hand-written letter from Coach Simmons on how much they loved
the way I am playing. I receive handwritten letters two or three times a week,
and he came up twice to my school.
"Dennis is from Memphis, they have me real close to him. I call him on the phone
and he tells me that he wants me to come visit. I want to come down there,
that's one school that I want to go down there and see something."
As for what he finds attractive about Texas Tech?
"That offense! That super offense where they score 50 points a game. The way
they spread it out, they're going to surround you by great receivers. It's a big
plus. I don't know much about the head coach yet, but I'm looking forward to
learning more about them."
Brunetti currently lists his top schools as Tennessee, Florida, Oregon and Texas
Tech.
Wilson a heavy Oklahoma State lean
While Moore (OK) Southmoore
athlete
Julian Wilson does not have any offers, it does not appear
as if he's necessarily looking for stacks and stacks of mail and double-digit
scholarship offers. In fact, if one school in particular offers, he might be
completely done.
"I'd have to say that Oklahoma State is my favorite because my dad played
there," he explained. "If they offered today, I'd take it.
"I've been on a couple of unofficial visits [to Stillwater]. It went well, they
treated me well and I feel like I'm one of their main targets. If they offered
me today then I feel like I'd have to commit."
Wilson feels that Kansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech are close to
offering. And while the Cowboys have a definite advantage, the Red Raiders
aren't completely out of it.
"They're up there pretty high," he said. "They're in my top three. They've
treated me well and they run the spread, similar to my school. I feel like I
could fit well into that system."
Haynes' stock is rising
Orange (TX) West Orange-Stark standout
James Haynes is one of two athlete targets with a Texas Tech offer,
due in large part to his strong performance at the Red Raiders' football camps
over the past two summers. And with more people seeing his performance at the
U.S. Army All-American Junior Combine last week, it seems as if more offers will
quickly be on their way.
"The head coach from Stanford came and saw me the last week of school," he said.
"I'm also talking to UT, I've heard a little bit from LSU."
The primary thing that Haynes is looking for in a potential college destination
is how close, or far away, it is from his home.
"[Texas] is close to home and I want my family to be able to see me," said
Haynes. "Texas is four hours and LSU is three and a half. Texas Tech, that's
nine hours. That's a long 'close to home.'"
Haynes indicated that he would commit on the spot if he received a Texas or LSU
offer.
Williams has Texas Tech out in front
Lake Dallas (TX) Lake Dallas offensive lineman
Daryl
Williams was quoted in October as saying that his early favorite
was LSU "because of their jersey colors." An unusual selection criteria, to be
sure, and it seems as if two months of reflection have caused a change of heart.
He now lists Texas Tech as his favorite, and for more conventional reasons.
"It's one of my top schools to go to right now," Williams said. "They were my
first offer, a good school and I had coaches from there actually talk to me.
"I went to the game against UT. [Matt Moore] said that he was excited that I was
there and asked if I got the scholarship in the mail."
The 6-5, 268-pound tackle impressed at last week's Junior Combine, and was
described by Rivals.com Recruiting Analyst Barry Every as a "one-on-one warrior
that would jump the line to take another repitition over less-aggressive
participants."
Williams is also hearing from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and LSU.
Metroplex-area OL has Texas Tech in top six
Like Williams, Cedar Hill (TX) Cedar Hill offensive lineman
Adam Shead impressed at the U.S. Army All-American Junior Combine
with his tenacity and enthusiasm during one-on-ones. Rivals.com Recruiting
Analyst Barry Every commented that he "has great lower body structure and plays
with low pad level," and "should get the same attention that fellow teammate
Thomas Ashcraft did this past season."
Shead already boasts offers from Miami, Colorado and Baylor, and is also hearing
from Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. The Longhorns are the favorite, but Shead
said that he wouldn't jump on an offer right away.
"I probably wouldn't commit yet," he said. "I want to make sure wherever I go,
it's the right place for me. I want to take all of my visits and as many
unofficials as I can before I make my final decision."
The 6-3, 315-pound guard prospect attended one of the Red Raiders' Cotton Bowl
practices in Texas Stadium last week and has really hit it off with the coaching
staff.
"They're all real cool dudes, they kind of mixed it up," explained Shead. "I had
my mind set on Texas and this is what's really starting to make me look at other
options and make sure that this is what I really want to do."
Premium Q&A: 2010 ATH DeMarco Cobbs
What offers currently have?
DC: “Right now, Tulsa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas
Tech.”
Who stands out among that bunch?
DC: “Right now, it has to be Oklahoma because they're competing for
a national title every year. The last few years they've won the Big 12
Championship.”
You took an unofficial to Oklahoma this season, what did you think?
DC: “The facilities were real nice. At the game, the atmosphere,
I've never heard a crowd that loud before. The coaches seem real cool. Bob
Stoops was there. I really liked it."
Are you receiving interest from Texas?
DC: “Yes, they're showing me a lot of love. The coaches are real
cool. Coach Chambers, I talk to him every once and a while. He seems pretty
cool. I love Texas, I grew up a big fan. As far as my offers, Oklahoma is on
top, but if Texas offered they'd be on top.”
Thoughts on Texas Tech?
DC: “I have some interest in Texas Tech. I like the fact that their
receivers get over 1,000 yards every year. It seems like a pretty good school. I
think I could go in and be a big-time receiver and make plays just like [Michael
Crabtree] or be better than him.”
Have you visited Lubbock?
DC: “I visited Tech when they played Baylor, the same week I went
down to Texas. They played on Thursday - Thanksgiving Day, and I went to Lubbock
that Saturday.”
King not a Tennessee lock, but close
Though 2009 linebacker
Greg King maintains, as he has for the last month or so, that Texas
Tech and Tennessee are his top two schools, and says they’re essentially
neck-and-neck. But since he lives in Memphis, Tennessee (a.k.a. SEC country),
King says people are assuming he’s a Tennessee lock.
“I keep saying Texas Tech is up there with Tennessee and that I really like
them, and people just don’t believe me,” he laughed. “I don’t know why nobody
believes me about that, but I keep trying to tell people that I really like Tech
a lot. I try to tell‘em.”
However, after we pressed him a little bit, King indicated that Tennessee may
indeed be out in front.
“I guess I’d say Tennessee is up there,” he said. “But I’m being dead serious
when I say that Texas Tech is right there still just the same. They’re a great
school and so is Tennessee, they’re both great, and I think it’s going to be a
tough decision.”
IIn our opinion, pulling King out of the grasp of Lane and Monte Kiffin and
recruiting ace Ed Orgeron would be nothing short of a minor miracle, but you
have to like where Tech sits at this point. To be in the top two of a defensive
prospect who holds offers from an in-state powerhouse and several SEC schools
and resides in the heart of SEC country with less than a month to go in the
process is a victory in and of itself. Kudos to Dennis Simmons, Ruffin McNeill,
and the rest of the staff, as they’ve done just about everything they could have
to be in a position to land King.
Will Johnson get an offer?
The story with Missouri City (TX) wide receiver
Darius Johnson is that SMU has been on him from the
beginning.
After committing last June, Johnson has created a close relationship with not
only the coaching staff but also his fellow commitments, one of them is a
childhood friend. Also, the Johnson’s have family in the Metroplex and they’ve
been really big on distance from the beginning.
With that being said, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound athlete hasn’t actually had any
realistic offers added to the table. It would be interesting to see how he would
react if the Red Raiders did indeed come calling and waived an official offer in
front of his face.
Johnson is talking about visiting Boston College this weekend but that’s not a
legitimate option to his parents, who feel it’s too far away.
The question now is whether or not Tech is going to end up extending an offer.
“It’s a cool school,” said Johnson. “They do pass a lot, too. It was a good talk
that I had with the coach. It was a really open conversation and we were able to
ask any questions that we had about each other.”
While Johnson did not have much to ask Seth Littrell, the Tech running back
coach had plenty of questions for Johnson.
“He was asking about my grades, offers I had gotten, how I like their offense
and things of that nature.”
Littrell told Johnson that they’d like to have him out on a visit. Discussions
amongst the Hightower standout and his parents are still ongoing about whether
or not they’ll go through with it.
JJohnson says that right now he is 90-percent committed to SMU. That 10-percent
difference could be enough for Littrell, if Tech decides they want him bad
enough.
Logan has Texas Tech in his top four
We checked in with Coushatta (LA) Red River defensive end
Bennie Logan this week. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder had previously
told us that he’d be taking an official visit to Lubbock. That has now been
confirmed.
“I’m going to Michigan this week,” said Logan. “After that, I’m going to
Southern Miss and then Texas Tech for the last weekend in January.”
The Red Raiders are one of three teams that Logan names as his favorites right
now, Nebraska and Michigan are the other two.
Logan has previously visited Nebraska but said there was never a reason to worry
about him committing and ending his process early.
“I’m really trying to take my time and take my visits to see how the other
schools are.”
We would expect Logan to go on the rest of his visits and remain uncommitted
until the 30th, when he goes to Lubbock.
“Michigan and Nebraska seem to be recruiting me the hardest as I’ve heard from
them longer. Tech just started coming in right before their bowl game. Now that
their bowl game is over with, they’re starting to come in more.”
The three-star prospect said that it doesn’t hurt Tech that they came in a
little later than the other two.
“No. they have reasons and I understand why. They were trying to win their bowl
game. They couldn’t just come see me all the time. I understand that.”
Defensive Coordinator Ruffin McNeil actually made a trip out to see Logan this
past Tuesday.
“He made me feel like if I come there then I have a chance to play my freshman
year. He ended up talking to me about the campus and everything else like that.
“He’s saying that I’ll fit their program well. He’s been watching the highlight
tape and I have a lot going for me. He said I’m a good fit to their program and
I’m the guy that they need to go to the next level.”
Logan said that he feels like he doesn’t know very much about Tech right now but
it’s obvious that McNeill is doing everything he can to educate the big
defensive lineman.
“He was telling me that their graduation rate is high and if I come there then I
will graduate with my degree. My first year I would be staying in an apartment
with other football players.”
Even though he’s still somewhat unfamiliar about the school, he has his reasons
for being interested.
“Their program is on the way up and they’re getting better. They’re building and
they have a chance of being something real big.”
As for McNeill, Logan feels that the two are starting to click.
“He’s a nice man. He’s cool and I like the way he’s talking. He understands me.
He tells me what he needs to tell and I believe his words. It’s nice to talk to
him and get to know him. I think if I went there that I’d be a good fit and
they’d take care of me.”
When speaking to Logan, he was taking part in the festivities of the ‘Sports In
Paradise Bowl’ that’s in Baton Rouge this week. The game is on Saturday at 1pm.
Logan is projected to play defensive end for the Red Raiders but will be used at
both end and tackle in the all-star game.
To view previous installments of the Red Raider Confidential, you can visit the
archives by
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This post was edited on 1/9 8:30 AM by A. Dickens
