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STORY: Cardinal's Red Raider Confidential (August 28th)

W. McKay

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With the success that tight end Jace Amaro had in Texas Tech’s offense, the Red Raider coaching staff has combed through the recruiting classes throughout the years looking for their next talent at the tight end position. West Mesquite’s Donte Coleman looks to have filled that role for the 2016 class, and Bullard (TX) TE Major Tennison could be that guy for the 2017 class.

Tennison was offered by the Red Raiders in April and has been in contact with the coaches ever since.

“I talk to Coach Chiaverini about once every two weeks just to catch up and keep in contact,” he said. “He’s been working to really get to know me as a person and I find that really cool. We talk about what’s going on at my high school. I have heard a lot about their offense through him; he tells me about guys like Jace Amaro and all that good stuff. He really emphasizes how great of campus Tech has and the atmosphere of the town, since it is a college town. He tells me there are a lot of pretty girls and it is a very good place to live.”

While college visits may not be as pressing as an issue for 2017 recruits at this time, Tennison still hopes to take a visit out to Lubbock to watch a game this fall.

“Me and my father will go up there and catch a game at some point and hopefully get to look around a little bit. We talked about the TCU game and how it was going to be a really good atmosphere, but I will make it to a game, whenever it may be.”

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound TE prospect has done a little bit of research on Texas Tech and is excited about the chance to get to experience everything in person.

“I’ve never seen the stadium in person, I mean you can Google images of it and all that good stuff, but there is nothing like seeing the stadium and the atmosphere in person. No matter the college, I’m really just interested in the gameday atmospheres of these schools and what it feels like to be a player. From what I have heard from my friends who have gone to Tech and random articles online, it seems like it is a crazy atmosphere and I am really looking forward to it.”

Things are still in the early goings for the number eight rated TE for the 2017 class, but Tennison believes that Tech will remain a major player even when his recruitment will inevitably start to pick up.

“I do feel like I am very interested in Tech. It’s funny because I always grew up not liking Tech because I was a real big Longhorn fan, but after getting to know more about the school and having built a relationship with the coaches, I really like Tech a lot now.”

Tennison could very well be the next Jace Amaro and would be a perfect fit for the Y-receiver position in Tech’s offense. The massive TE is no doubt a receiving force and is used to playing all over the field for Bullard. While blocking may not be the best area of his game at the moment, it is something he is very capable of doing.

“I can put my hand in the ground and block on the line if I have to. I play on the inside right now for my high school and I sometimes get split out wide as well. My hands and my ability as a receiver is what really defines my game, but I have no problem down blocking a middle linebacker or blocking a DB if I have to. I can do a lot.”

As a sophomore, Tennison caught 20 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns in six games. He also holds one other scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.

-Kohnle

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Mandeville (Louisiana) LB Johnathan Picone will be taking his first visit to Lubbock for Tech’s home opener on September 5. The two-star recruit committed to the Red Raiders in June, and things are still going strong between Picone, Coach Spavital, Coach Curtis, and Coach Gibbs.

“Things are great right now. I’m still talking to those coaches regularly and getting closer with them. I have my official visit planned for September 5; I’ll be up there that whole weekend. Things are just like they were when I committed, so it is going very well.”

It may seem weird for a current commit to want to visit during early September when the school is playing an FCS opponent, but Picone has had this date in mind for awhile and knew exactly what he was doing when he chose the first game of the year for his visit.

“I chose that date because I knew that was the first visit that I wanted to take. We can’t take official visits until September 1 and their first game was the first opportunity for me to take a visit, and I knew that is where I wanted to go. I just wanted to go to Texas Tech as soon as I could officially and that’s why I chose the 5th. Also getting to go up there with my buddy Kevin Moore was a big deal for me,” he said. “I’ll be there for the first game of the year to experience that atmosphere and see Lubbock at its finest.”

Picone wants to see the obvious things from his trip to Lubbock like the facilities, the town, the stadium, but getting to see the coaches’ coach and the environment on game day is what he is really looking forward to.

“First thing I want to see is how the coaches interact with their players. That’s a big thing for me. Getting to see how they coach on game days is important, but also getting to be in that environment on game day is something that I am looking forward to.”

The 6-foot-1 LB recruit previously mentioned contact with the three coaches - Coach Curtis, Coach Spavital, and Coach Gibbs - and always looks forward to his conversations with those coaches.

“Pretty much they are telling me that they are ready to get things rolling and want me to get out there as soon as possible. They just talk to me what it’s going to be like when I get there and I’m telling them how excited I am to get out there,” he said. “Basically they’ve been telling me that any dreams that I have, I can accomplish them at Texas Tech. They have one of the best coaching staffs in the country. If the NFL is in my future, they are going to make sure that I have all the resources available to be successful.”

The Louisiana LB recruit has made some comments recently about keeping his options open throughout his recruitment and wanting to take more officials. These comments could raise concern about Picone’s commitment to Tech, but the prospect is solid with the Red Raiders and is very interested in what the program has to offer, which is why he committed to begin with.

“The coaches always make me feel like I am their top priority and their Petroleum Engineering program, which is something that I want to get into, is very strong. Really anything that I want to accomplish in life, Texas Tech will give me the ability and tools to do that. That’s huge for me.”

Earlier, Picone made a comment about visiting with Acadiana (LA) LB Kevin Moore. Moore and Picone are very good friends, and Picone shared his thoughts on how he has gone about recruiting Moore.

“Yeah of course I am (recruiting him), I want him to be where I am going, but at the same time everybody has to choose their own path to decide what they want to do with their life. I don’t know what his path is, but I’m going to keep telling him that I want him with me,” he said. “I think he is very interested in Tech, but he is interested in a lot of the other schools too. Nobody has really pulled away yet, and that’s why these official visits are so important.”

-Kohnle

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