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
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So is McNeal visiting or not?
Well, the answer is that nobody really knows except Bryce McNeal. When asked if
he was absolutely sure he’d be visiting Tech, this is what he said.
“I’m trying to go down there on the 8th,” he reiterated. When pressed further,
McNeal explained that it isn’t necessarily a done deal. “I’m still trying to get
that set up. I’d say it’s about 80% sure that I’ll be down there. I really want
to go though.”
And why exactly does he want to check out Tech?
“The receivers coach, the people there, the opportunity of playing early,” he
said. “Coming into that conference, with that program, that’s all very exciting
to me.”
With guys as highly recruited as McNeal, it’s virtually a guarantee that his
recruitment is probably going to get crazier before it calms down.
Karam talks A&M game and some other tidbits
When Texas Tech
took on Texas A&M two weeks ago, RedRaiderSports.com broke the news
that Tech quarterback commit Jacob Karam was in attendance. Karam took a minute
to tell us a little about his trip.
“I couldn’t believe how many Tech fans were there,” he laughed. “There were
Raider-Power chants going on like every five minutes. You know, this wasn’t my
first A&M game, because I live like an hour away, but this was just so cool
because Tech was playing. It was my first game there since I committed to Tech
and to be there as a Red Raider was a little weird, but it was awesome at the
same time.”
Karam also said that Tech’s success has people everywhere he goes asking about
Tech.
“I can’t even describe how bizarre it’s been,” he said. “Random people come up
to me and start talking about how excited they are that I’m going to Tech and
this and that. With me being a quarterback too, that just makes it even more
magnified. It’s got me thinking a lot about what a huge blessing it is that they
chose me to be their QB in this class. It’s a true blessing from God.”
The three-star signal caller, who is not exactly deficient in the personality
department, has also been pitching in on the recruiting trail.
“I’ve been texting Joel Gray and he told me that he and Kyle are coming down for
the UT game,” he explained. “I’ve also been talking to Earnest Celestie still.
I’m going to try my best to talk to all the uncommitted prospects this weekend -
I think Emory Blake is going to be there. I’ve been talking to Eric Ward and
Eric Stephens too. Stephens loved it and I’ve been trying to get him on board. I
think it’s just a matter of time there. Eric Ward likes Tech too - I think he
might be trying to visit here pretty soon.”
Yeah, in case it hasn’t been made clear by now, we think Karam’s commitment is
pretty darn solid.
Celestie and Giordano excited about visit
E.J. Celestie’s guardian and track
coach Johnny Giordano spoke to us about a month ago about the perception that
anyone that doesn’t go to LSU is somehow an inferior player - a sentiment he
says he hasn’t heard much as of late.
“I don’t see anybody talking about LSU now,” he laughed. “Everyone just can’t
believe that we get to go to a game this big in person and all that. And after
the Kansas game, I’ll tell you what, I haven’t had a single person come up and
ask why he chose Tech, because they know now. They’ve seen why, and they’re not
thinking about LSU anymore.”
As for E.J. himself, he says he’s hearing the same thing, and can’t wait to see
the Red Raiders in person this weekend.
“When I first committed, everyone was asking me why I did, because they still
think of me as a running back,” he laughed. “But now that they’ve seen me a
little at WR and have seen that Tech is undefeated and all that, they’re not
asking me questions anymore, they’re more interested in asking questions about
Tech and talking about the program and all that. I know I’ve been there once,
but what I really want to see is a game, and that’s what I’m interested in this
weekend. I’m thinking it’s going to be the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Weaver not wavering, much
It’s been a while since we checked in with Waco defensive end Andrew Weaver.
The three star prospect committed to Texas A&M last July so it was time to find
out how his recruiting process has been since.
“It’s slowed down a little bit right now,” said the 6-foot-2, 210-pound lineman.
“Right now, Texas A&M and Missouri are the two main colleges talking to me.”
So how is that commitment to the struggling Aggies going?
“My commitment is still 100-percent and still strong. The coaches there are
doing well. I love the coaching staff and I believe that we’re going to be
pretty good next year when the 2009 class comes in.
“They just need to come together. They’re doing their best right now. I’m still
100-percent with my commitment.”
If Weaver’s not wavering then what are the Tigers telling him these days?
“They’re just trying to get me to come up for a game. They want me to see their
environment. They’re doing pretty good too this year.”
The Red Raiders had offered Weaver since the beginning. So are they not
contacting him anymore?
“I talked with him last week. They’re talking to me every now and then. I don’t
really have an interest with them. I’m 100-percent with Texas A&M.”
Weaver repeatedly said that he was 100-percent with the Aggies, yet he also
mentioned the possibilities of going on trips. So what about visiting the Hub
City?
“I was thinking about it but I don’t know now. I still want to take a trip up
there to see a game. I don’t know for sure though. I was going to the Nebraska
game but they already played.
“Now I feel like I’m either going to the Oklahoma State game. I’m going to call
them and see if I’m not busy. I have to take the SAT this weekend so I can’t go
to Texas. I’m trying to make it to the OSU game if nothing’s happening.”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound recruit says that there’s also a chance he would go to
Baylor to watch them play Missouri later in the season.
Of course, he’s got a great reason to why he would still want to visit other
places.
“I just want to see what the college environment is like. I want to take a lot
of trips.”
Weaver might say that he doesn’t have any interest in Tech or other schools. In
fact, publicly, he’ll surely continue to say that the Aggies are 100-percent.
But don’t be surprised if he were to take a trip to Tech before the season is
over.
If he does, don’t expect the Red Raider coaching staff to sit back and let
Weaver take a joy ride trip. They’ll give him the full treatment and see if they
can still land this current Aggie.
Bullitt is not coming this weekend
Three-star cornerback commit Terrance Bullitt has gotten talked about frequently
on these boards over the last week or two. After tripping to Oklahoma State last
Friday without the fans knowing, it’s now apparent that the coaching staff was
not aware of the first official visit that he took either.
“I talked to Coach Riley like a week ago,” said Bullitt. “He just asked me about
the Oklahoma state visit. There’s nothing big going on there though. He just
told me to tell him next time before I take a visit.”
Bullitt further explained that Riley didn’t seem frustrated but just simply
stated that he’d like to know when the defensive back prospect was going
anywhere else.
“He wasn’t mad or anything. I just haven’t been talking to him lately. I’ve been
really busy with football stuff. I haven’t been able to call him a lot with
football and school.”
So, does Bullitt plan another program, other than the one that he’s currently
committed to?
“I don’t know if I’m going to take another one. If I can, I will. If I do, it’d
be after the season. “
As far as during the season, it’s been planned that Bullitt would take his
official this weekend to Lubbock to watch his future team play Texas.
“I won’t be at the Texas Tech game this weekend because my dad and my mom are
going to watch my brother play against New England. I’ll probably be at the
Oklahoma State game.”
Bullitt’s brother, Melvin, is currently in the NFL and he said that his parents
want to go on the official to Tech, so they’ve requested that he holds off.
“I’m real disappointed. I wanted to see that game pretty bad but I’ll watch it
on TV and then go to the Tech game when they play Oklahoma State. I want to see
how it is after the football game and what the players do and all that stuff.”
Does it not seem ironic that it appears the opponent on Bullitt’s visit will be
the Cowboys?
“Not really. It is but I don’t look at it in that way.”
Meanwhile, Bullitt likes the 8-0 position that the Red Raiders are currently in.
“I’m really excited about them. They have three big games coming up. They have
to really come out and play. I think they can do it.
“I know Tech has their biggest game and we have ours this week as well. We’re
playing against Garland. If we win, then we’ll be co-district champs, if we lose
then they’re district champs.”
We’ll check back in with Bullitt next week to confirm that he will be able to
attend the Oklahoma State game in Lubbock.
Premium Q&A: Emory Blake
Can you talk about the
visits that you’re taken and are going to take thus far in your recruiting
process?
EB: "I go visit Texas Tech this weekend. After that, I visit Missouri the next
weekend. I visited Boston College about a month ago. I visited Colorado as well
about three weeks ago."
After going on two visits already, what have you learned so far in your
recruiting process?
EB: "All the schools are different. There are positives and negatives to each. I
had a great time on both of my visits so far. I’m just looking forward to the
rest of them."
Can you talk about your visit to BC?
EB: "I really clicked with the players when I got there. I just had fun with
them. I was talking to their coaches and they run the West Coast Offense which
I’m familiar with. My dad taught me. We were going over what they run and what
they would do if I came there and what position I was would play. Two of the
coaches have been family friends for a while so it was nice to get up there and
see them."
What about Colorado?
EB: "They have a beautiful campus with a really young team. I think in a few
years they’ll be one of the top teams in the Big 12."
Why do you have interest in Texas Tech?
EB: "They throw the ball a lot. I watched the game against Kansas last Saturday
and it was amazing how many points they put up so fast and how they use Michael
Crabtree. I want to get up there and see what it’s like and what the players are
like and the coaches."
Who is your recruiting coach?
EB: "It’s Coach Sadler, he calls me once a week. He seems like a really cool
coach. We talk once a week and he calls and checks up on me to see how I did
that weekend in my game. Right now we’re talking about my visits and flights."
Compared to the other schools you’re visiting, where would you put Tech at
right now?
EB: "They’re towards the top of my list or I wouldn’t be visiting there. I’d
like to get to a school and see the campus and see what it’s like before I make
assumptions or accusations. Once I see that, I’ll have a good idea of how far
Tech is on my list."
Do you have any favorites?
EB: "I’m not going to say I have favorites because I haven’t visited all of them
yet. Of course I enjoyed those visits a lot but I can only compare two of them."
Is there any way you commit before the completion of all five visits?
EB: "Unless it’s completely amazing but I doubt I would do that. I had a blast
on my other two visits and I didn’t do it then because I want to make sure it’s
the place for me and the place I want to end up. I don’t want to have any second
thoughts about wanting to visit other places."
Have you ever been to Lubbock?
EB: "I have not."
What have you heard about it?
EB: "I’ve heard it’s just a college town. It’s kind of out in the middle of
nowhere. Once you’re on campus, that’s where you live. You really don’t go
anywhere else."
Lawrence still an option for the Red Raiders
Rockwall (TX) Heath running back Kendial Lawrence is still planning
on heading out to Lubbock next weekend for the Oklahoma State game. It appears
that Lawrence is the number two back option for the Red Raiders.
“I talked to the Tech coach on Saturday after they played Kansas. He was talking
about the plane tickets and setting up my visit.
“I enjoyed watching the Kansas game. It was a good game at the beginning but
Texas Tech has a really good offense and they just took off on them. I stopped
watching after the third quarter.”
Though Lawrence says he does not have a favorite school right now, do keep in
mind that the Red Raiders are the only ones that he’s taken the initiative to go
see on an official visit.
It’s noteworthy to know that SMU offered Lawrence last week. While the
struggling Conference USA team doesn’t seem like much of a threat, Lawrence does
have a connection within the program.
Lawrence’s quarterback is Houston commit Drew Hollingshead. Hollinghead’s father
is former Rockwall-Heath head coach and current SMU football director Tam
Hollingshead. Lawrence has a great connection with the Hollingshead family and
undoubtedly knows a lot about the team and school.
We still feel that the Red Raiders would land Lawrence if they offered though.
It all depends on what Mansfield Timberview all-purpose back Eric Stephens
decides to do. Stephens could possibly be holding Lawrence’s fate in his own
hands and doesn’t even know it.
Quick stat note: Last week, Lawrence collected 306 yards and three
touchdowns. That brought his total on the season to 1,607 yards and 26
touchdowns in eight games.
Carroll trio set to visit
It’s been talked about much about how important Southlake Carroll defensive end
Jackson Richards is going to be for Texas Tech’s 2010 commitment class. After
giving his verbal last March, Richards has been recruiting players around him
non-stop.
One of those happens to be his starting outside linebacker and fellow junior
Mitchell Osborne.
“I like Tech a lot,” said Osborne. “Jackson is going there and he talks so
highly of them and that they’re a great program and beat A&M. They’ve always had
a great team. They’re a good team to go to and play for.”
It’s evident that Lubbock would be a place that Osborne wants to go to. While
he’s not projected to necessarily get an offer from the Red Raider any time
soon, he is also getting recruited by Stanford, TCU, SMU, Oklahoma State,
Arkansas, and Connecticut. So the attention is definitely there.
After Richards brought Osborne with him this past summer to the Hub City, the
two have decided to do it again. This time, they’re going to bring another
friend along with them as well.
“Jackson invited me to Texas Tech for the game against Oklahoma State and my dad
wants me to go. It’s close so it’s an easy trip to make. Also, Cade Foster will
be going with us well. We just want to go watch Tech play.”
Foster is going to be another top prospect out of the state of Texas and is the
starting middle linebacker for Carroll. He’s currently injured but shouldn’t be
out for more than a few weeks. With his booming leg and great linebacker skills,
Foster could be recruited for a variety of positions.
Expect this Carroll trio to be in the stands for the game against the Cowboys.
We asked Osborne to also give us an update on Richards.
“He’s really improved since last year. He was real good last year but he’s taken
it to the next level. He’s performing the best that he can right now and he’s
going to get better and better. He goes full speed every play and is showing
everybody that he is the best out there.”
Premium Q&A: Eric Morris
How good is this defense compared
to Longhorn defenses of the past that you’ve seen?
EM: “They’re good. They’re really fast. They don’t really blow many converges,
they get to the ball. Right around the ball, usually a lot of guys running to
the ball. Their secondary is pretty young, but they play pretty well. They’re
pretty physical, they’ll jump routes, and things of that nature. So, we have to
be really sound in what we’re doing, and we have to run crisp routes, and I
think that will allow us to get over them.”
What’s your collective confidence level like as a team?
EM: “You know, I think we’re really confident at this point coming off a big
week, a big win last week in Kansas, and we really brought some things together,
and we really played a full game all three sides of the ball, like you said.
“Our defense played really well, had some turnovers, some three and outs, which
is really big. Offense was clicking, and scored a lot. Scored fast, and our
special teams made some plays for us. You know, we have to get contributions
from all three sides of the ball this week, too.
“They’re a great football team, well obviously, number one in the nation, and
they do some really good things, and they have some great athletes. You know, we
don’t have to be special this week by any means, and we have to keep that in
these young kid’s minds. That what they’ve been doing so far this year is good
enough. And, we need to keep making routine plays, and keep driving the ball
down the field, and if we do that we will be able to keep the success up.
“Hopefully, we will all put our parts in. But, we have to know that routine
plays will do us, we don’t have to do anything super human this week.”
Is that the biggest thing with you guys?
EM: “Absolutely, you know, and we take it personal when we don’t score as a
group, as an offensive unit. And, it’s something that is not acceptable to us,
and, you know, even three points, we’re not happy with it.
“So, we’re a team this year that has a lot of confidence with what we’re doing
right now, and we’re not looking for big plays, because big plays will come if
everyone is doing their job it’ll happen, here, there, but as long as we’re
making routine plays, and we’re making sustained drives down the field, then
we’ll be fine. We just have to continue doing what we’re doing.”
How long before we see the Elf formation. We heard all about it in August,
and then we saw a few Michael Crabtree plays, but when are you going to get in
there and do this stuff?
EM: “Yea, it’s been kind of a weird deal, I was out for a week during the off
week, and a little bit of the first of that week, so Mike did it for a little
bit, and then last week I actually did it, I was in the back field twice.
“I don’t know if anybody noticed it, but we ran pass plays off of it. We’ve
worked on some different stuff, but it’s not something that we’ve really needed,
and we’re clicking so well, and the things that we’re doing are working really
well, so if we continue to do this, then we just want to do what we’re good at,
and that’s kind of what we’ve done, and we will continue to do that this week, I
think.”
Have you ever had this much fun playing football?
EM: “You know, I don’t think so. Football has always been fun for me, but this
year, with this group, it’s a special group, so we all have fun together, and we
all kind of thrive off of each other, and we get excited together, and we get
excited for one another.
“Especially the receiving corps, I’ve never been part of a receiving corps which
is so excited to throw blocks for each other down the field, and break about
some long plays. We keep tabs of that, you know as a unit, who has the most
knock down blocks or blocks that bring us touch downs, and that sort of thing.
“So, it’s a lot of fun. Running around, and making plays, so, I would have to
say this is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life playing football.”
Leach kind of got a twinkle in his eye after the Kansas game when he
mentioned that “The Elf” would tell him how tough he is when you all watch the
films. What’s that all about, what was he alluding to there?
EM: “Mainly that I’m not shy with him, or any of the other coaches. I’ve been
around here for along time, and I know what we’re trying to accomplish. I
understand my capabilities, and I love having the ball in my hands, and I want
to make plays, and I enjoy doing it, and I have confidence in myself to make
play.
“It’s always been something that’s a part of me, I’m so competitive, especially
on Saturdays, plus you know, I’ve gotten frustrated, at times, on the field when
we’ve put in big sets, and I come off the field, the inside receivers do. So,
it’s something that frustrates me at times, just because of my competitive
nature. And, I understand that at certain times we need different stuff in the
game.
“I just have the mentality that I’m the best receiver in the nation, even though
I play aside literally the best receiver in the nation. In my mind, I would
never say he was a better receiver than me, because that’s just the way that I
think, and that’s the way that I play, and I think it helps me on Saturday.”
With your production, it seems like a lot of teams would love to have a
receiver doing what you do.
EM: “Yeah I think so, when you have an offense like this, we get the ball to a
lot of people, and we’ve had some young guys step up into some big roles this
year.
“Detron has done a tremendous job. Tremain’s made some big plays for us. Both
Lyle Leong and Edward Britton have both made plays. So, we have kids across the
board that are making plays for us, and that’s what’s fun about it.
“Like I said before, all four of us at any time when we’re on the field together
are trying to block for the other guy, and trying to spring him. It’s a great
group of kids, and I’m fortunate to play with them all.”
Off the field, you’re notorious for the practical jokes, is there anything
that you’ve pulled off recently that you can tell us about?
EM: “You know, not recently. We did some stuff before the season, but once you
really get into the grind and things of that such. But, Halloween is right
around the corner, so we have some things working right now, and there will be
some funny costumes in the next couple of days up here.
“So, maybe it will help relieve some stress if anyone’s going through, or if
they’re a little up tight right now, which they shouldn’t be. But if they are,
it’ll let all the guys laugh for a little bit, and things of that such.”
Are you going to don the Elf outfit?
EM: “I have the Elf outfit, you know it might come out, but there might be
something new that might come out. Everyone just has to keep their eyes open.”
You were in the same recruiting class as Graham Harrell. How proud are you
of him for the things that he’s done?
EM: “I’m just happy I got the chance of playing with him here to be honest, you
couldn’t ask for anything more in a quarterback, in a leader. And someone being
a three year starter here, and someone I was able to develop a friendship with
on and off the field, you know, and a trust on and off the field.
“So, he’s really good, and he’s going to be really good for a long time. He’ll
be really good on the next level, he’s that talented. His savvy for the game is
undeniable. I mean, he understands things, he gets us in and out of plays, he
understands how this game is played, you know, just everything about him.
“His pocket plays, you know, we have one sack this year, which is accredited to
the offensive line who have played fantastic all year long. But, a lot of it’s
accredited to Graham too, his pocket presence. I couldn’t have asked for a
better quarterback and someone who is a friend of mine, and who is fun to play
with.”
You keep him grounded don’t you?
EM: “All the time, a bunch of the people are here are scared to talk trash to
him but when he needs a talk to, then I’m not scared to do that. And, I’ll bring
him down to earth a couple times a week probably, when he has, cause he’s kind
of like a celebrity in Lubbock these days.
“Going out to eat with him is kind of a big deal for people around town. You
know we give him a hard time, but he does a good job with it.”
What’s the latest with Danny Amendola?
EM: “You know, he’s doing well, he’s playing football, and making a living out
of it, even if it is on the practice squad. I think he’s frustrated at times,
especially lately with them not doing as well as they should, and them bring Roy
Williams over, which is undeniably on of the best receivers in the league.
“But he’s a competitor as well, he wants to be on the field on Sundays, and he
believes in himself and I do to, and I think he can make plays there. But, I
think he’s doing well, he’s getting better, and learning new things.
“He’s becoming more familiar with their offense which is pretty difficult from
what he said, but he’s doing well, and I expect him to be playing on Sundays in
the future. But, everything is going well, just practice team and practicing
four days a week, and just having fun in Dallas the rest of the time.”
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This post was edited on 10/31 7:48 AM by A. Dickens
