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CORNER HELP ON THE WAY?
Arguably the biggest remaining need in Tech's 2012 recruiting class, at least
defensively, is cornerback. The Red Raiders have Lancaster's La'Darius Newbold
commited at corner, but probably need to add more help at the position between
now and February. Tech's situation at corner may be a little less alarming than
originally thought, though, because of the return of a familiar name -- Thierry
Nguema.
Nguema committed to the Red Raiders in March as part of the program's 2011 class
and planned on joining the team later in the summer. He wasn't able to get
qualified in time, and is now sitting out the fall semester with plans of
enrolling at Tech in January.
We spoke with his guardian, Mark Dye, on Thursday and got the latest on Nguema.
Is Thierry attending classes anywhere right now?
MD: "Right now no, there is a junior college in Northern
California that is actually on the quarter system. So we are going to enroll him
in a couple of online courses through that school. Classes start there in about
two weeks."
What makes Tech the right place for him?
MD: "He likes the idea of having the opportunity to play early.
Thierry knows they are a young team down there and they are going to grow
together. I mean they are not going to be beating up on team's early one but
down the line that whole group of them are underclassmen and they going to grow
together and I think after a full year or two together they should have a
serious run. He wants to be a part of that, but unfortunately he was unable to
come in this fall. "
Why was his enrollment delayed?
MD: "There were a number of things that attributed to him not
being able to enroll in the fall. One of the big ones were his grades were not
high enough for a student like him who is considered international status
because he is not fully a U.S. Citizen yet. It just takes a little longer and a
few more classes are required to make it into a major U.S university. He will be
there in January and couldn't me more excited to join his future teammates at
Tech. "
How is he staying in shape?
MD: "So far he has been working out to a designed workout that
the coaches at Tech have sent us to work on as well as a regimen that I have put
together for him. I am a trainer so we are doing some defensive back related
drills that will help him with his quickness. He has a good high school teammate
who is a redshirt as well who is going to go to Fresno State next year. It is
nice to have this extra motivation and someone else who is going through the
same thing as him and they can push each other to become better football
players. We do a lot of on field drills to work on footwork and quickness
because of how different the game is going to be at the next level. We also work
in the weight room and do specific weight room plans sent by Texas Tech to us.
We also have been fortunate enough to have the last two Tech games on tape so we
have had some film sessions as well."
What does Thierry think of Tech so far this season?
MD: "We are impressed, I know he is excited. For me I have been
used to UCLA because that is where my other son goes to school but Texas Tech
runs a different style of offense and defense so they are fresh to watch and are
very exciting. It is exciting to see young players coming into one of the better
conferences and already making a difference on defense. They are making mistakes
but they are supposed to at that age. I think there is a different type of
energy around Tech right now with the young team they have. They will have more
experience and will mature a lot quicker than other teams who just plug
different starters in there every year."
- Hair
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CATCHING UP WITH KEENAN
?
Argyle (Texas) offensive lineman and Texas Tech commit Trey Keenan has helped
pave they way for his team's 4-0 start and is also putting up some pretty
impressive individual numbers.
"Solid, I am being more consistent. I already broke our single season pancake
record that I set last year and I have not allowed a sack yet. I have been
working on my pad level to get ready for next year."
Since committing to Texas Tech in June, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound prospect has
pretty much shut down his recruitment.
"It kind of wore off after committing and now I am just worried about my senior
year and getting ready for Tech next year."
Keenan still has not set up his official visit to the South Plains but setting
that up with inside receivers coach Sonny Cumbie in the next few weeks.
Keenan committed to Texas Tech over offers from Air Force, Arizona, Arkansas,
Baylor, Boise State, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas state, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi State, North Texas, Oklahoma Sate, Purdue and Tennessee.
- Hair
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OKAFOR DISCUSSES PERFECT START
Houston (Texas) Westbury offensive lineman and Tech commit Christian Okafor
helped pave the way for his team to post 251 rushing yards in a 10-0 victory
over Magnolia last week, bringing Westbury's record to a perfect 3-0 on the
season.
"It felt great to win the game," Okafor said. "We need to improve on when we
have the ball in the red zone. We keep getting turnovers, and we really need to
improve just getting the ball into the end zone. Everything else is pretty much
OK. That was a defensive game to tell you the truth."
While the 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle didn't get a chance to catch any
of Texas Tech's 59-13 victory over New Mexico on Saturday, he never doubted the
result.
"I knew they were going to win because, you know Texas Tech, they play hard all
the time no matter what team it is."
Okafor says that other schools have pretty much backed off since he committed to
the Red Raiders back in January. Now, he's just looking forward to Westbury's
upcoming game at Westside.
"That's going to be a fun game. It's probably going to be unpredictable; it's a
game to look forward to."
Okafor, whose brother Mickey Okafor is a junior offensive lineman at Tech,
committed to Texas Tech back in January over offers from Arkansas, Baylor,
Houston, LSU, and Mississippi State.
- Cauley
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NEWBOLD LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK
Lancaster (Texas) defensive back and Tech commit La'Darius Newbold was
disappointed with his team's 55-38 loss last week to Corsicana, but feels good
about Lancaster's upcoming game against West Mesquite.
"I feel we have a good chance," Newbold said. "We'll be able to play hard. They
throw the ball, and I don't think anybody can really throw on us, so as long as
we can stop the run we're good."
The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback says that, at the moment, he is still feeling
good about his June commitment to the Red Raiders, but is considering all of his
options.
"I want to make sure I make the best decision for me. I'm just checking out my
visits, and just making sure I'm making the right decision."
Newbold says that Baylor and Oregon have been contacting him in particularly as
of late, but he has two upcoming visits planned to other schools.
"I have one next week to Texas Tech, and I have one coming up to Arkansas. I
don't know which game I want to see just yet."
For now, though, Newbold is focused on his final high school season, with high
goals set for himself.
"I just want to make the All-American team, and All-District. Just trying to go
out with a band for my senior year.
- Cauley
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JOHNSON HASN'T HEARD FROM TEXAS
Earlier this week, rumors began to surface that League City (Texas) Clear Spring
receiver Marcus Johnson had been in contact with Texas and might even be looking
at a possible offer from the Longhorns. Johnson denied those rumors on Thursday
night.
"Actually, I haven't heard anything from Texas," said Johnson. "My Dad's been
telling me that there's been little things on their websites and stuff like
that, but as far as them coming to me, they haven't said anything."
- McKay
---
NICHOLAS SET TO VISIT LUBBOCK TWICE
Texas Tech quarterback commit Clayton Nicholas will visit Lubbock Friday and
then return to the Hub City less than 24 hours later.
The Abilene (Texas) Cooper product will come up to Lubbock with his high school
football team today to square off with Lubbock Coronado High School, giving Tech
coaches and local Red Raider fans an opportunity to see Nicholas in person.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere," Nicholas said. "I think some of the
coaches will be up there watching me. Should be a great matchup for both teams
and hopefully we come out on top."
After the game Nicholas will take the bus home with his team, wake up and make
his way back to Lubbock with his parents for Tech's game against Nevada which
kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday.
That means Nicholas will drive about 500 miles between now and Tech's kickoff.
"Me and my parents had the choice of staying the night (in Lubbock), but I told
my head coach it'd be more important for me to stay with our team. That's the
program I'm with right now and I'm going to stay focused on my team and get back
to the school with everybody. We'll just drive up the next day."
The visit won't be Nicholas' official visit. He wants to take the official visit
later in the season and he wants to organize the visit with other Tech commits
so they can all spend time together at their future school and try to lure in
other recruits into the fold.
Cooper (2-2) started the season with two heartbreaking losses but rides a
two-game winning streak into Lubbock, including a 51-6 win against Lubbock High
School in Abilene last week. Lubbock Coronado is 0-4.
"They're better than their record," Nicholas said. "They're 0-4, they shouldn't
be 0-4, I guess their defense has given up some big plays. On offense it looks
like they play hard and play fast and their defensive line plays fast.
"I feel like our offense and our o-line is about to break loose from the chain
and we're going to get on a roll."
Nicholas also had great things to say about Tech quarterback Seth Doege's
performance in the New Mexico game last week.
"I'm really happy for him," Nicholas said. "I've known him for about a year now.
We talk occasionally on Facebook and stuff like that. I actually talked to him
after the game and he said, 'Gosh, I don't know what happened. Our receivers and
o-line were doing awesome, we caught everything and I was on point with my
ball.'
"I'm looking forward to getting down there and getting in the locker room and
making it feel like home."
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This post was edited on 9/23 12:12 AM by A. Dickens
This post was edited on 10/1 3:16 PM by A. Dickens
