The Red Raider Confidential is sponsored by Cardinal's Sports Center. If you need Texas Tech gear or Under Armour apparel, the best place to go in our opinion is Cardinal's -- they have a tremendous location in Lubbock (Slide and S. Loop 289), a store in Plano and a fantastic selection on their website.
If you're in the Lubbock area and looking to get into shape, but don't know where to start, check out the website for Cardinal's Fitness. You can sign up for individual classes -- no contract or membership required -- that are good for people at any fitness level.
----------
With 24 commits, it is easy to have a few of them get lost in the shuffle. Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson defensive end Austin Deshay could be one of those players that gets pushed to the back of the pack at times but could be one of the players who is physically ready to make an impact the minute he steps on campus; his commitment to Tech is pretty solid, too.
“It’s pretty great. I’ve been talking to Coach Curtis a lot and keeping up with him; it has been great. He just DMs me motivational quotes and stuff to think about every day. It’s really good stuff to think about during school,” he said. “When I talk to Coach Smith we usually talk about the defense. He is excited to get me down there and play at that rush end position. We both agree on what I can bring to the table, speed off the edge and leadership.”
Deshay said he recently measured at 6-foot-5, 240-pounds and is excited for the chance to get down to Lubbock.
“I’m excited for the opportunity at Texas Tech. I’m just ready to get away and Lubbock felt like the perfect fit. I want to get into engineering and they have some great programs for that. I just feel comfortable there with all the players and the coaches.”
Deshay is in a group text with all the other commits and is happy with the bond he has built with the other prospects. Along with his fellow commits, Deshay is also very happy with the relationship he has built with his recruiters, Coach Curtis and Coach Smith.
“Coach Smith is pretty funny. I see him as a father figure, brother type, a close friend. I really like how Coach Smith is involved with all the players and they spend a lot of time together. He is always on top of them, making sure they are doing the right thing, and I need someone like that,” he said. “I really like Coach Curtis and see him as more of a mentor.”
Deshay is still garnering some interest from both Kansas and Kansas State and recently received a visit from the Jayhawks. A visit from Coach Curtis on Friday is what he is really looking forward to, though.
“Kansas came and visited me recently at my school, but Coach Curtis is supposed to come down on Friday to watch my Homecoming game, and I am very excited for that.”
-Kohnle
----------
Crosby (Texas) wide receiver Mannie Netherly can clearly tell that defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis has true interest for him. He realizes the difference between each of the coaches that are vying for his talents. Each day he receives a text message from Curtis. Sometimes the topic of the discussion is football, but it mostly revolves around life's challenges, grades and other things. Curtis may not even realize how much those small gestures means to Netherly.
"Yeah, everyday! Literally like everyday. I talk to coach Curtis everyday, and coach Morris every Friday night after the game. He (Eric Morris) texts me and ask how the game went" said Netherly. "He's (Kevin Curtis) a good guy. He more like a motivator. Everyday he sends me like some motivational stuff to keep me going through the day."
-Martin
----------
As we reported earlier this week, Lancaster athlete Tyrell Alexander has been hearing from Texas Tech quite a bit and could make it out for a visit, whether this weekend or in the future – he has yet to confirm with us.
“They like that I’m very fast and very explosive” Alexander said. “They like my size and how quick I am on the perimeter, getting out into space and making plays.”
With his Tennessee and Houston visits scheduled for later down the road, it doesn’t appear he’ll shut things down any time before that. In fact, he could stretch his decision out until 2016.
“I’m still going to take my time, probably sometime after the season or signing day unless it feels like the perfect time,” Alexander said. “I’m still weighing out my options.”
“To me, what will separate one school from the pack is just the fit. If it fits me and if I fit into the offense or a school that feels like home like how my high school is and making sure I have the right major academic wise and just the chemistry of the team and how everything is operating at the school.”
The three-star approximated his season stats at 18 receptions for 200-something yards and four touchdowns.
-Wright
----------
Texas Tech offered La Porte (Texas) outside linebacker Terrel Bernard back in May and as mentioned in an earlier story this week, the 2017 prospect hears from linebackers coach Zac Spavital on a regular basis.
“I have been talking to Coach Spavital on twitter pretty much every day. He usually just asks me how school is going and how my team is doing,” he said. “Coach Spavital is a great coach obviously, and you can see that from all the types of recruits that he has picked up and all the guys he has coached in the past. He is a great guy and I really enjoy having him as my recruiter.”
The junior linebacker actually hears from defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis pretty frequently as well.
“I have been talking to him (Coach Curtis) on twitter quite a bunch too,” he said. “I don’t know too much about him, but he seems like a pretty energetic and a really hyped type of coach and that seems pretty fun.”
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior holds offers from Tech, Houston, and recently picked up an offer from SMU. Along with Texas Tech, Bernard also speaks with TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M. Even with all the early interest from a lot of other schools, the three-star recruit is very interested in the Red Raiders’ football program.
“They play in the Big 12 which is one of the best conferences in the country and they play a lot of great competition. I just like the coaches and the type of people they have up there. It is really intriguing to me,” he said. “It is just a great program with great competition, and I would love to be a part of that.”
Bernard has posted 54 tackles, 4 sacks, and has forced 3 fumbles through 4 games this season. He does not have any visits scheduled at the moment but does plan on attending the Baylor vs. TCU game and would like to get out to a game in Lubbock if the opportunity presents itself. He is rated as the number 71 player in Texas in the Rivals Initial top 80 for the 2017 class.
-Kohnle
If you're in the Lubbock area and looking to get into shape, but don't know where to start, check out the website for Cardinal's Fitness. You can sign up for individual classes -- no contract or membership required -- that are good for people at any fitness level.
----------
With 24 commits, it is easy to have a few of them get lost in the shuffle. Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson defensive end Austin Deshay could be one of those players that gets pushed to the back of the pack at times but could be one of the players who is physically ready to make an impact the minute he steps on campus; his commitment to Tech is pretty solid, too.
“It’s pretty great. I’ve been talking to Coach Curtis a lot and keeping up with him; it has been great. He just DMs me motivational quotes and stuff to think about every day. It’s really good stuff to think about during school,” he said. “When I talk to Coach Smith we usually talk about the defense. He is excited to get me down there and play at that rush end position. We both agree on what I can bring to the table, speed off the edge and leadership.”
Deshay said he recently measured at 6-foot-5, 240-pounds and is excited for the chance to get down to Lubbock.
“I’m excited for the opportunity at Texas Tech. I’m just ready to get away and Lubbock felt like the perfect fit. I want to get into engineering and they have some great programs for that. I just feel comfortable there with all the players and the coaches.”
Deshay is in a group text with all the other commits and is happy with the bond he has built with the other prospects. Along with his fellow commits, Deshay is also very happy with the relationship he has built with his recruiters, Coach Curtis and Coach Smith.
“Coach Smith is pretty funny. I see him as a father figure, brother type, a close friend. I really like how Coach Smith is involved with all the players and they spend a lot of time together. He is always on top of them, making sure they are doing the right thing, and I need someone like that,” he said. “I really like Coach Curtis and see him as more of a mentor.”
Deshay is still garnering some interest from both Kansas and Kansas State and recently received a visit from the Jayhawks. A visit from Coach Curtis on Friday is what he is really looking forward to, though.
“Kansas came and visited me recently at my school, but Coach Curtis is supposed to come down on Friday to watch my Homecoming game, and I am very excited for that.”
-Kohnle
----------
Crosby (Texas) wide receiver Mannie Netherly can clearly tell that defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis has true interest for him. He realizes the difference between each of the coaches that are vying for his talents. Each day he receives a text message from Curtis. Sometimes the topic of the discussion is football, but it mostly revolves around life's challenges, grades and other things. Curtis may not even realize how much those small gestures means to Netherly.
"Yeah, everyday! Literally like everyday. I talk to coach Curtis everyday, and coach Morris every Friday night after the game. He (Eric Morris) texts me and ask how the game went" said Netherly. "He's (Kevin Curtis) a good guy. He more like a motivator. Everyday he sends me like some motivational stuff to keep me going through the day."
-Martin
----------
As we reported earlier this week, Lancaster athlete Tyrell Alexander has been hearing from Texas Tech quite a bit and could make it out for a visit, whether this weekend or in the future – he has yet to confirm with us.
“They like that I’m very fast and very explosive” Alexander said. “They like my size and how quick I am on the perimeter, getting out into space and making plays.”
With his Tennessee and Houston visits scheduled for later down the road, it doesn’t appear he’ll shut things down any time before that. In fact, he could stretch his decision out until 2016.
“I’m still going to take my time, probably sometime after the season or signing day unless it feels like the perfect time,” Alexander said. “I’m still weighing out my options.”
“To me, what will separate one school from the pack is just the fit. If it fits me and if I fit into the offense or a school that feels like home like how my high school is and making sure I have the right major academic wise and just the chemistry of the team and how everything is operating at the school.”
The three-star approximated his season stats at 18 receptions for 200-something yards and four touchdowns.
-Wright
----------
Texas Tech offered La Porte (Texas) outside linebacker Terrel Bernard back in May and as mentioned in an earlier story this week, the 2017 prospect hears from linebackers coach Zac Spavital on a regular basis.
“I have been talking to Coach Spavital on twitter pretty much every day. He usually just asks me how school is going and how my team is doing,” he said. “Coach Spavital is a great coach obviously, and you can see that from all the types of recruits that he has picked up and all the guys he has coached in the past. He is a great guy and I really enjoy having him as my recruiter.”
The junior linebacker actually hears from defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis pretty frequently as well.
“I have been talking to him (Coach Curtis) on twitter quite a bunch too,” he said. “I don’t know too much about him, but he seems like a pretty energetic and a really hyped type of coach and that seems pretty fun.”
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior holds offers from Tech, Houston, and recently picked up an offer from SMU. Along with Texas Tech, Bernard also speaks with TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M. Even with all the early interest from a lot of other schools, the three-star recruit is very interested in the Red Raiders’ football program.
“They play in the Big 12 which is one of the best conferences in the country and they play a lot of great competition. I just like the coaches and the type of people they have up there. It is really intriguing to me,” he said. “It is just a great program with great competition, and I would love to be a part of that.”
Bernard has posted 54 tackles, 4 sacks, and has forced 3 fumbles through 4 games this season. He does not have any visits scheduled at the moment but does plan on attending the Baylor vs. TCU game and would like to get out to a game in Lubbock if the opportunity presents itself. He is rated as the number 71 player in Texas in the Rivals Initial top 80 for the 2017 class.
-Kohnle
