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.
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Hutchinson (KS) C.C. receiver De’Quan Bowman has made quite the name for himself this season on the JUCO level as he has made a ton of plays as a receiver, punt returner, and kick returner for his Hutchinson team. Things are going well between him and Texas Tech, too.
“Everything is cool. We are still connecting and getting pretty close, me and the coaches. We have a pretty tight relationship and everything is going real good. I hear from them every day, they make sure they say something to me every day,” he said. “Coach Morris and Coach Kevin Curtis are the ones I hear from the most. I think they are pretty good coaches and they are real with me and that’s why I like them. They keep it 100% real with me and I like that.”
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound play maker has been able to catch brief moments of Tech’s season up to this point as Hutchinson plays the majority of their games on Saturday as well. From what he has seen so far, he is excited to get to Lubbock and make a big impact on the team.
“I feel like I can contribute to the offense pretty good in the slot. I can catch passes and take them the distance for touchdowns. I can help out a lot in the return game, on special teams, and be a big part of the team in that aspect.”
Bowman is on track to graduate in December and then head to Lubbock. There are no other schools in contact with Bowman at the moment and the speedy receiver is ‘solid’ in his commit to the Red Raiders. One thing that keeps Bowman so firm in his commitment is the offense Tech run and the emergence of Pat Mahomes.
“That air-raid offense is like no other. I can catch a lot of passes and score touchdowns. I’m really excited to play with him (Mahomes) and am really excited to start building chemistry with him early. I think when we start clicking, we can have something special.”
Rated as the number 78 player in the JUCO ranks, Bowman has caught 31 passes for 431 yards and 2 touchdowns through 5 games. He has also tacked on another 99 yards a touchdown on punt returns.
-Kohnle
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Roswell (New Mexico) Goddard 2017 running back Devon Quiroz currently holds 3 offers from Texas Tech, UNT and Abilene Christian. Quiroz is very pleased to have an offer from the Red Raiders, and is looking forward to visiting the south plains soon.
"I like the way that they spread the ball on offense. One thing that really stood out to me is two of their running back recruits are under 5-foot-9. I mean, by the time my senior year is over, I probably won't be more than 5-foot-9 too, so it seems like they give a lot of opportunities."
At the moment, all of Quiroz's offers are partial, but he's hoping to change that with the strides he's made this season as a running back.
"I feel like I'm doing a lot better. I feel like I'm making a big impact. My vision. I feel like that's improved my game a lot, because at running back you have to have more technique"
Quiroz is just as concerned about educational advances, as he's concerned about football. He plans to major in engineering. Right now, he thinks Tech is at the top, despite Notre Dame's recent recruitment.
"For academics, I want to pursue civil engineering and architecture, and I know Tech has a really good program. If they don't offer me a full-ride, I live in New Mexico so I'll get a little help (on tuition)" said Quiroz.
As a running back, what does Quiroz think about the commitment of Rivals 100 OL Jack Anderson?
"You know what? That's awesome! A five-star recruit coming to Tech? That's just another guy to run behind" said Quiroz "I like to watch film on those guys and see what they've got, and he looks really good."
-Martin
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Texas Tech recently offered 2019 San Antonio O’Connor offensive lineman Brannon Brown, the brother of current right tackle Baylen Brown. While the Red Raiders were the first to the party, Brown will go through the process with an open mind.
“My family definitely wants me to have my own process,” Brown said. “They definitely want me to go to the best place for me and not just because my brother went to Tech.”
“I would definitely like to stay in state so my family can make the games, but I’m open to going out of state.”
Just being 6-foot-4, 275-pounds and able to move as a high school freshman is impressive but that’s not all Texas Tech offensive line coach Lee Hays likes about Brown.
“He said it was good to see how I am as a freshman and that I have so much room to grow as a player and stuff like that.”
-Wright
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Fredericksburg (Va.) Riverbend offensive tackle and Texas Tech commit Zach Adams was blown away by his unofficial visit to Tech two weeks ago.
“Most of my time on Saturday I hung out with Gio and Jett and got to know them,” Adams said. “The next few years we’ll be together. I’ll be protecting Jett with Gio, Travis and Emoree so we’ve been getting to know each other.
Adams is originally from the Houston area, but his dad’s job took them to Virginia. When a chance to return to Texas came along, it was a no-brainer for the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder.
“I’ve been back and forth with my dad,” Adams said. “He’s a federal agent. I’ve always wanted to get back home. As soon as I got offered, I was sold and I knew that was where I need to be. I got family all over the state and they can watch six or seven games a year down there.”
The three-star is looking forward to the change of pace from high school to FBS so he can match-up against more guys his own size.
“Right now the coaches really just want me to enjoy my senior year and to know that work starts when I get there,” Adams said. “Film wise, it’s difficult being 6-7 and playing against 5-11, it’ll be a totally different game when I get to college.”
-Wright
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Almost every player who is committed to Texas Tech, regardless of class, came on board before the season started and before things looked to be on the up-and-up. Many commits we’ve talked to see significant improvements from one year ago, including 2017 quarterback commit Xavier Martin.
“They look a lot better than last year,” Martin said. “I love their offense. Patrick Mahomes is doing great, spreading the ball out well. They should have won the TCU game if it wasn’t for that catch. They’ve been doing well. It’s been really fun watching them.”
There have been some questions – because Martin is so athletic – if he would remain a quarterback long term and for now that answer is still ‘yes.’
“The coaches told me they mainly want me for quarterback,” Martin said. “That’s my main position.”
-Wright
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.
----------
Hutchinson (KS) C.C. receiver De’Quan Bowman has made quite the name for himself this season on the JUCO level as he has made a ton of plays as a receiver, punt returner, and kick returner for his Hutchinson team. Things are going well between him and Texas Tech, too.
“Everything is cool. We are still connecting and getting pretty close, me and the coaches. We have a pretty tight relationship and everything is going real good. I hear from them every day, they make sure they say something to me every day,” he said. “Coach Morris and Coach Kevin Curtis are the ones I hear from the most. I think they are pretty good coaches and they are real with me and that’s why I like them. They keep it 100% real with me and I like that.”
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound play maker has been able to catch brief moments of Tech’s season up to this point as Hutchinson plays the majority of their games on Saturday as well. From what he has seen so far, he is excited to get to Lubbock and make a big impact on the team.
“I feel like I can contribute to the offense pretty good in the slot. I can catch passes and take them the distance for touchdowns. I can help out a lot in the return game, on special teams, and be a big part of the team in that aspect.”
Bowman is on track to graduate in December and then head to Lubbock. There are no other schools in contact with Bowman at the moment and the speedy receiver is ‘solid’ in his commit to the Red Raiders. One thing that keeps Bowman so firm in his commitment is the offense Tech run and the emergence of Pat Mahomes.
“That air-raid offense is like no other. I can catch a lot of passes and score touchdowns. I’m really excited to play with him (Mahomes) and am really excited to start building chemistry with him early. I think when we start clicking, we can have something special.”
Rated as the number 78 player in the JUCO ranks, Bowman has caught 31 passes for 431 yards and 2 touchdowns through 5 games. He has also tacked on another 99 yards a touchdown on punt returns.
-Kohnle
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Roswell (New Mexico) Goddard 2017 running back Devon Quiroz currently holds 3 offers from Texas Tech, UNT and Abilene Christian. Quiroz is very pleased to have an offer from the Red Raiders, and is looking forward to visiting the south plains soon.
"I like the way that they spread the ball on offense. One thing that really stood out to me is two of their running back recruits are under 5-foot-9. I mean, by the time my senior year is over, I probably won't be more than 5-foot-9 too, so it seems like they give a lot of opportunities."
At the moment, all of Quiroz's offers are partial, but he's hoping to change that with the strides he's made this season as a running back.
"I feel like I'm doing a lot better. I feel like I'm making a big impact. My vision. I feel like that's improved my game a lot, because at running back you have to have more technique"
Quiroz is just as concerned about educational advances, as he's concerned about football. He plans to major in engineering. Right now, he thinks Tech is at the top, despite Notre Dame's recent recruitment.
"For academics, I want to pursue civil engineering and architecture, and I know Tech has a really good program. If they don't offer me a full-ride, I live in New Mexico so I'll get a little help (on tuition)" said Quiroz.
As a running back, what does Quiroz think about the commitment of Rivals 100 OL Jack Anderson?
"You know what? That's awesome! A five-star recruit coming to Tech? That's just another guy to run behind" said Quiroz "I like to watch film on those guys and see what they've got, and he looks really good."
-Martin
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Texas Tech recently offered 2019 San Antonio O’Connor offensive lineman Brannon Brown, the brother of current right tackle Baylen Brown. While the Red Raiders were the first to the party, Brown will go through the process with an open mind.
“My family definitely wants me to have my own process,” Brown said. “They definitely want me to go to the best place for me and not just because my brother went to Tech.”
“I would definitely like to stay in state so my family can make the games, but I’m open to going out of state.”
Just being 6-foot-4, 275-pounds and able to move as a high school freshman is impressive but that’s not all Texas Tech offensive line coach Lee Hays likes about Brown.
“He said it was good to see how I am as a freshman and that I have so much room to grow as a player and stuff like that.”
-Wright
----------
Fredericksburg (Va.) Riverbend offensive tackle and Texas Tech commit Zach Adams was blown away by his unofficial visit to Tech two weeks ago.
“Most of my time on Saturday I hung out with Gio and Jett and got to know them,” Adams said. “The next few years we’ll be together. I’ll be protecting Jett with Gio, Travis and Emoree so we’ve been getting to know each other.
Adams is originally from the Houston area, but his dad’s job took them to Virginia. When a chance to return to Texas came along, it was a no-brainer for the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder.
“I’ve been back and forth with my dad,” Adams said. “He’s a federal agent. I’ve always wanted to get back home. As soon as I got offered, I was sold and I knew that was where I need to be. I got family all over the state and they can watch six or seven games a year down there.”
The three-star is looking forward to the change of pace from high school to FBS so he can match-up against more guys his own size.
“Right now the coaches really just want me to enjoy my senior year and to know that work starts when I get there,” Adams said. “Film wise, it’s difficult being 6-7 and playing against 5-11, it’ll be a totally different game when I get to college.”
-Wright
----------
Almost every player who is committed to Texas Tech, regardless of class, came on board before the season started and before things looked to be on the up-and-up. Many commits we’ve talked to see significant improvements from one year ago, including 2017 quarterback commit Xavier Martin.
“They look a lot better than last year,” Martin said. “I love their offense. Patrick Mahomes is doing great, spreading the ball out well. They should have won the TCU game if it wasn’t for that catch. They’ve been doing well. It’s been really fun watching them.”
There have been some questions – because Martin is so athletic – if he would remain a quarterback long term and for now that answer is still ‘yes.’
“The coaches told me they mainly want me for quarterback,” Martin said. “That’s my main position.”
-Wright