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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.
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When I spoke with new Texas Tech commit and Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge dual-threat quarterback Jett Duffey on Wednesday, we talked about the typical commitment things, but we also spent a little bit of time talking about recruiting and his role moving forward as the signal caller in the 2016 class.
He's already spoken with a few of the current commits in the class, and he's also ready to start spreading the word about the Red Raiders to other prospect he knows. Duffey's on the lookout for new prospects that Tech could go after, too.
"To be honest, it's already started now. I've been welcomed to the family by a couple of guys who have already committed, and from going to camps - and there are a couple of receivers at my school that I know would be great fits at Texas Tech - there are several receivers that I know of. Then I'll basically just talk to the coaches and just see what they think, just telling them that this guy or that guy is out here, and that they might want to take a look at them."
The current commits that Duffey's already talked to include Skyline (Texas) running back Da'Leon Ward and Allen (Texas) 2015 offensive lineman and signee Cody Wheeler.
"I knew about the Skyline running back already that was committed, and then I talked to one of the offensive linemen from Allen that is committed (Cody Wheeler). He was one of the very first ones to tell me welcome to the family."
And seeing as Duffey has already won two Elite 11 Regionals - New Orleans and Charlotte - he's also already received an invite to the Elite 11 finals in the summer. The QB is very excited to compete in the event, and he hopes to help the Red Raiders out on the recruiting trail through it as well.
"Oh, I'm pumped up for that, to be able to compete against the top quarterbacks in the nation and try to show that I am also the top quarterback in the nation. That might help out Texas Tech also, let people see that they have the top quarterback coming into their program with recruiting, cause good players want to be surrounded by great players."
--McKay
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Texas Tech is always looking to add talented pass catchers to their roster, and Arlington (Texas) Lamar receiver Kofi Boateng fits the bill. Lamar is a very popular place right now as there are a quite a few coaches dropping by to see about prospects, including Texas Tech OC and inside receivers coach Eric Morris.
"I mainly talk to Coach Morris and we talk every week or so. We talk about my possible future at Texas Tech, we talk about education that they can provide. We have a pretty close relationship, so we talk about some personal things too.”
The three-star prospect is also hearing from defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis as well.
“The other coach recruiting me on the Tech staff is Coach Curtis, we don’t always talk on the phone, but we DM each other a lot. We talk every two days or so,” he said.“We talk about me playing for the Red Raiders and what I could do, we talk about some personal things, but he also just keeps me focused on my goals.”
The number 74 player in the state of Texas holds 25 offers currently. The highly sought after prospect hopes to narrow down his list to 10-11 schools soon and Texas Tech is in the running to make the list. To help narrow down his choices, Boateng has also figured out what he wants from a future school
“I am in the process of narrowing down my school list. I will get the list posted to twitter sometime around June 6th. Some of the schools that are sticking out are Tech, Ole Miss, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Kansas State. Those are the main teams. A lot of schools have been recruiting me pretty hard, but those are the main ones trying to push in front of the pack,” he said.“The main things I am focused on is my education and if the school I want to go to has my major, I want to get a good degree. Another thing that I am looking for is if I have a good connection with the coaches, are they easy to talk to, and can I see myself playing for those coaches and the program. I want to feel like I can live in that area for the next three or four years or however long it takes me to finish my degree or get to the league.”
The receiver likes Tech for a variety of reasons and shared why he is interested in the Red Raiders.
“They (Tech) have kept in contact with me a lot. They have shown that they are really interested in me, they have shown a lot of interest. They do a good job of tying football into my personal life. They have me focused on the future and not just about football.”
“The type of offense they run is pass happy and wide receiver friendly. The coaches at Texas Tech are easy going, they are easy to talk to and they take care of their players.”
The number 84 overall wide receiver has never made it out to Lubbock, but that could change over the summer. Boateng hopes to take a number of visits over the next few months, in fact.
“I have been visiting with my mom and we have been laying out a plan of places that I can visit. I will probably be hitting all the close schools in the Texas area. I’ll mostly be looking to visit the schools that have offered me and that have stayed in touch with me. June is probably when I will be taking my visits.”
At 6-foot-1, 180-pounds Boateng has the size and length of a prototypical outside receiver but is actually being looked at on the inside at Texas Tech.
“At first he (Morris) had me out wide on his board, but he came by and watched me play and now says I would be perfect in the slot. He says I would fit in well with their main slot position. He tells me about how good my speed is and how I can run the whole route tree. He dissects my game to me.”
Playing inside is not a problem for the three-star prospect, as he lines up all over the field at Lamar.
“I can play both, I play both at Lamar. I am good at doing both, I know the whole route tree and the whole nuances of playing both inside and outside. It just depends on what the coaches see what is best for the team.”
“I consider myself a deep threat for sure, I love running those deep posts and go routes. I do a really good job of high pointing the ball.”
Boateng is hoping to have everything figured out before his senior season and is eyeing an early commitment date. He finished his junior season with 66 receptions for 1,023 yards and 15 touchdowns while also adding 14 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
--Kohnle
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Houston (Texas) John H Reagan linebacker Robert Revels has been on Tech’s radar for awhile now. The Reagan product has always held the Red Raiders in high regard, and nothing seems to have changed for Revels.
“There are a couple schools that I like right now. I’m liking Texas Tech a lot, Tulsa, and I’m liking Colorado State a lot too,” Revels said.“Tech was my first offer, so the first one is going to always be special to you. I did a lot of research on them and they have just been there from the beginning. They show me a lot of love with hand written letters and stuff. They show that they want me a lot, so I want them a lot too.”
The linebacker is speaking with a combo of Tech coaches right now, as both Coach Curtis and Coach Spavital speak to Revels on a regular basis.
“We talk about once a week. I talk to coach Kevin Curtis the most. He is a cool dude, he keeps it real with me. I know a lot of people say that they want to build a relationship, but Coach Curtis has done a really good job of doing that with me,” he said.“I talk with Coach Spavital too. He shoots me a DM every now and then and we talk a little bit. I think he is a good coach and he says that he will put me in good position for the NFL combine and stuff. The type of defense they are going to run is going to really help develop the players.”
“When we talk about football they say that I would fit perfectly in their defense at middle linebacker. With the new defensive coordinator and stuff they are doing a lot of good things. They said that they are going to be dominating on defense this year and no one is going to see it coming.”
Revels was one of the many prospects in town in early March for Tech’s Junior day. It has been a couple months since the visit, but Revels is still impressed with what he saw in Lubbock.
“I loved that city, it is a small college town. Everything around it is just Red Raider Nation, and I liked that a lot. The facilities were real nice and the academics were real nice too. The coaches and the players just felt like family out there.”
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker hopes to be back in Lubbock again, saying that he will ‘definitely’ be taking a gameday visit. Revels has a many options on the table but has his criteria already figured out when it comes to a future college.
“I’m looking for an opportunity to play early, a close linebacker core, I want to know the coaches real well too because when I make a commitment, I don’t want to decommit. I want to know everything about the school.”
The two-star linebacker hopes to make a decision before his senior season. Revels racked up 84 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), and four forced fumbles during his junior campaign.
--Kohnle
