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MIAMI COMMIT DIDN'T MAKE VISIT
Miami (Florida) cornerback Larry Hope was scheduled to make a visit to Texas
Tech this last weekend for the A&M game, but wasn't able to make the trip.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder committed to the University of Miami back in June,
but since the Hurricanes landed in a bit of hot water, other schools have been
trying to sway the defensive prospect.
"Just like Texas Tech, and some other schools have been checking up on me to see
how I'm doing, but that's basically it," Hope said. "I'm committed to UM. That's
my school right now. That's all I can say right now, that I'm committed to UM."
Hope says, after missing this weekend's visit, that he isn't sure if or when any
other future visits to schools will be on the horizon.
"I don't know yet, me and my dad are going to go over all that."
Hope committed to Miami over offers from Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisville, Nebraska, South Florida, West Virginia, Wisconsin and many others.
- Cauley
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2013 TE VISITING THE RED RAIDERS
?
Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints tight end Charlie Reid will be on hand at Tech's
game against No. 17 Kansas State this weekend. He's excited to see what the Red
Raider fanbase and the City of Lubbock have to offer.
"I've been talking to coach Neal Brown and coach Sonny Cumbie a lot since I went
down there (for a camp)," Reid said. "I hope to meet a lot more of the coaching
staff and really get to know Texas Tech football a little bit better. Getting to
see the campus and just all of that, the crowd and all that stuff and really get
to know Texas Tech a little bit more."
With Tony Trahan having already left to program and Adam James set to graduate
after this year, Reid likes the potential for early playing time at Tech.
"I like that and also I'm more of a slot receiver than I am a traditional tight
end," Reid said. "Just the fact that I'll be able to play a lot of slot too is a
huge factor for me in making my decision."
Reid said he's having a pretty good season at All Saints.
"I worked really hard since last year to up my stats and be a bigger leader on
the field," Reid said. "Be more of a physical player so I think there's a lot of
difference. I've done a lot better than I have last year and I'm hoping to make
an every bigger impact in the back end of the season."
Aside from Tech, Reid is getting interest from Missouri, Alabama, Arizona State
and Oregon. Most mail comes from Tech though.
- Graham
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WARD RECAPS VISIT
Snyder (Texas) athlete and Tech commit Keenon Ward made the trip to Lubbock to
watch last weekend's game against Texas A&M.
"I went to the game, but I didn't go through the recruiting process or anything
like that. I just went and sat in a normal seat," Ward said. "It was a good
game. We fought the whole time, and it was close. They played good, I thought."
The 5-foot-9, 176-pound quarterback and athlete said that his unofficial visit
only served to strengthen his commitment to the Red Raiders.
"I already have my mind made up," Ward said. "Every time I go there, everything
just gets better, so there wasn't anything I was looking for to help me make
that decision."
While Ward remains strongly committed to Texas Tech, his current focus lies on
his final high school season, and Snyder's upcoming game against Brownwood.
"It's going to be a good game," he said. "We had our bye-week last week, so we
had an extra week in advance to prepare, and I think we're going to take
advantage of that and be ready to play."
Ward, who committed to Texas Tech back in March, has completed 35 of 73 passes
for 412 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season, as well as having rushed
104 times for 912 yards and 10 touchtowns.
- Cauley
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KASTER WORKING ON 2013 PROSPECTS
Altair (Texas) Rice Consolidated center and Red Raider commit Jared Kaster was
in Lubbock this past weekend on an unofficial visit to watch the Red Raiders
play Texas A&M.
"It was a great visit, it was a great experience. We got there and talked to
some of the other commits who were down there for the game and they showed us
all around. I have been there before so it was a good time to just be around my
future teammates. I saw Coach (Matt) Moore and he told me that I have gotten
bigger and am playing much better this year than last year around this time. I
talked to Coach Tubs for a little bit and Coach (Chad) Scott, it was really good
to get to know the other commits that were there."
Kaster got to see the pre-game activities for the first time this past weekend.
"We went to the Raider Walk and that was really neat experience and we stood
right at the end where they were about to go down the tunnel so they rung the
bells and it about gave all of us a heart attack but man was it worth it. It was
a really good experience was great. I went to an A&M game with some friends a
long time ago and it was nothing like this place, Tech blows College Station and
Kyle Field out of the water when talking about how loud it is and how exciting
game day is."
The 6-foot-4, 268-pound prospect also enjoyed the game day atmosphere at Jones
AT&T Stadium.
"Coach Scott said it gets pretty crazy up in there for game days in Lubbock and
finally we get to see it and it was everything he hyped it up to be if not more.
They were so ecstatic, walking on the field with J.J. Bynum we both were just
amazed and had a great experience that we should never forget."
Even though the Red Raiders lost the game 45-40 Kaster liked the Red Raiders
style of play and their never quit attitude.
"It was a great because it really shows you how the coaching staff is good for
this school, to know that with a few minutes left they are going to drive the
field and score with ease and then kick an onside kick and to show that they are
not going to quit no matter what. It shows that a team has heart and I think
games like that, even though it was a loss, will help a team in the long run.
The defense stepped up the second half for the most part and this team is on the
up, no doubt about it."
Kaster even spent some time talking to some of the 2013 prospects that were in
attendance about what to expect next year during the recruiting process.
"I just talked to a couple of them about Tech and what to expect when we get
here on campus so we tried to be honest about the situation and what for them to
expect and I wanted someone to talk to me about those things so we just wanted
to help them out with wherever they ended up going because it is all about
yourself and making you a better person for your future family but we did try to
put a Tech spin to it for sure."
- Cauley
---
BYNUM EXCITED ABOUT TECH VISIT
College Station (Texas) defensive tackle J.J. Bynum was one of a group of
recruits who made a trip to Lubbock this weekend to watch Texas Tech face off
against Texas A&M, and although the number one thing he wanted to see was "for
Tech to beat A&M," he enjoyed every minute of it,
"I absolutely loved it," Bynum said. "Growing up in College Station I've always
heard about how bad the Tech fans were, and when I was there I loved how the
fans were behind the players on the field 100 percent, whether they were right
or wrong. It's pretty awesome to know that, next year, they'll be cheering for
me.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder says he is still "very comfortable" with his decision
to commit to the Red Raiders, and is focused on his final high school season.
"I think we're doing good," he said. "We started out slow on offense a little
bit because we had to adjust to the changes with the new head coach. Once we
were able to adapt and get it under control we were 3-0 in district, and you
can't be happier about that."
Bynum committed to Texas Tech back in May over offers from Texas State, Houston,
Navy, Rice, and Wyoming.
- Cauley
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This post was edited on 10/13 11:22 PM by A. Dickens
This post was edited on 10/22 11:00 AM by A. Dickens
