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FLORIDA CORNER SETS OFFICIAL VISIT
One of Texas Tech's biggest needs heading into the back end of the 2012
recruiting cycle is help in the defensive backfield. The Red Raiders will have
Coral Springs (Fla.) cornerback prospect Dion Witty in town for an official
visit next week to watch Tech's matchup against in-state rival Texas A&M.
"I have one set up for next week to watch them play their rival Texas A&M for
the last time, so it should be live down there," he said. "I still need to call
them back to double check that everything is still on for that game. The game
should be fun and I hear they have some pretty loud fans so that should be
interesting."
Up to this point the 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect has been mostly speaking with
schools from the Big Ten and is currently in the process of picking his top five
schools.
"Well right now my top five sits at Purdue, SMU, Vanderbilt, I am talking to
Texas Tech and I am still waiting on one more, I am not sure what my fifth
school is quite yet."
There are certain things that Witty looks for when trying to find a school to
commit to, first of which is education.
"The main thing is education and where I can see myself for the next four years
and where that can put me for the rest of my life. I want to go pro just like
everyone else but I know that if it doesn't happen then I want to have a backup
plan," he said. "Tech also has what a good Criminal Justice program which I want
to major in so that is definitely a plus."
Witty currently does not hold an offer from Tech but likes several things about
the Red Raiders and thinks playing in the Big 12 would help him make it into the
NFL.
"I like everything about Texas Tech, their defensive scheme now is built on
playing passing offenses. They are a passing team just like everyone else in the
Big 12 so it will be exciting to go out there every day in practice and practice
against one of the best passing offenses in college football history, and that
is how you get into the league.
"I could see myself at Texas Tech. They are a good school for sure with a lot
success in football in the past 15 years."
Witty is making his first official visit to Purdue this weekend to watch the
Boilermakers play Notre Dame and also has visits planned with SMU and Vanderbilt
after the season. He also holds offers from FAU, Indiana, Minnesota, UCF,
Vanderbilt, Western Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Hair
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NICHOLAS TALKS BELL
?
Abilene (Texas) Cooper quarterback and Texas Tech commit Clayton Nicholas
unofficially visited the South Plains over the weekend and hung out with
official visitor
Javon Bell before the Red Raiders' game against Nevada.
Nicholas said the feedback from Bell was very positive.
""talked to him. I said, 'Hey man, when are you gonna sign with us?' He said,
'Actually, I'm thinking about it right now. I feel like I'm going to, cause I
feel like this is the place I need to be. I feel like you're my quarterback I
need to give me the ball so I can do work with it.'
"The way I talked to him, it seemed like he was pretty ready to commit with us
and be another big time receiver for us. We've got Dominique (Wheeler) and
Reginald (Davis) and Marcus (Johnson). We've got some big time receivers coming
up, but he'll be a big one for us too."
- McKay
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FLANNIGAN WORKING ON IMPROVING
Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall linebacker and Tech commit Ryan
Flannigan has had a great start to his senior season so far, but that hasn't
stopped him from focusing on the areas in which he feels he needs to improve.
"I want to get to the ball faster, that is something I consider myself pretty
good at already but at the next level you need to be elite at that," he said. "I
also want to get better at pass coverage, right now I am considered a run
stopper, and I want to be able to make plays for my team before the ball is
thrown. I want to be known as a threat in coverage as well and that is what I am
working on."
Flannigan said that "some schools" are still trying to recruit him, but "most"
don't because they know he is solid to the Red Raiders.
While he doesn't expect to officially visit until after the season, Flannigan
hopes to make it up to Lubbock for a game or two this fall.
"DeAndre (Washington) wants me to come to a game or two this year to check us
out and how quick the young players are on the field," Flannigan said. "I want
to come down for the A&M game or Baylor down in Dallas. I might even go to both
of them."
- Hair
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SMITH MAY TAKE OTHER VISITS
Houston (Texas) Westfield defensive tackle Anthony Smith accounted for eight
tackles, three tackles for loss, a blocked punt, and two quarterback hurries in
a loss to Tomball this last Saturday.
"We hit a big stepping-stone Saturday with Tomball," Smith said. "We were 3-0.
You know, we beat Memorial, beat Fort Bend Travis, beat Hastings, and the first
game in district we fell to Tomball."
Despite the loss to Tomball, Smith is looking forward to this week's match up
against Klein (3-1).
"Klein's a very good team, and very well coached," he said. "I think we fell two
or three points short of them last year. They lost their district opener, and we
lost our district opener. So, I feel pretty confident about it."
The 6-foot, 291-pounder is still feeling good about his June commitment to the
Red Raiders, but says that two other schools are continuing to pursue him; Boise
State and Wake Forest.
"Yea I'm still comfortable with it. Even though there are some schools behind
them, I'm still feeling confident about it."
Outside receivers coach Tommy Mainord, and defensive line coach Sam McElroy have
been the ones staying in contact with Smith for Tech, and Smith says he plans on
making at least one more visit.
"I don't know the exact days, but Tech wants me to come up this season," Smith
said. "I've got to look at my schedule, but I don't know if I'm going to go up
to the Boise State-TCU game. If I'm going to go to Wake Forest, it will be after
the season."
- Cauley
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This post was edited on 9/29 11:40 PM by A. Dickens
This post was edited on 10/7 1:34 AM by A. Dickens
