Good morning, happy Friday everyone.
As always, the Friday Flare is brought to you by our friends at Gator's Bayou. Need an adult beverage to round out your week? Head over to the patio at Gator's Bayou and have a few this afternoon.
Check out their website and follow them on social media for more upcoming events.
----------
WEEKLY CLICKS
...a quick list of links from the various stories posted on RRS this week.
Expectations high for Benson following redshirt season
Takeaways: Wells transitions into fall camp with focus on development
Roundtable: What makes 2019 a success for Matt Wells?
Texas Tech's Thomas Leggett playing with a chip on his shoulder
Ranking the Texas Tech football 2019 schedule
Practice Two Notes and Takeaways
Cooks talks progress in secondary, move to Lubbock
Three players to watch during Texas Tech basketball's Bahamas trip
Highly skilled California shot maker Chibuzo Agbo visiting Texas Tech
Edwards continues growth since championship game
Takeaways: McIvor's progress, Ezukanma standing out and more
Koontz discusses transition to Lubbock, goals for upcoming season
----------
PODCAST LINKS
The guys posted two podcasts this week, give them a listen today...
Soliz and Dickens talk TTU football practice
Matador Report
-----------
2020 CLASS - SPOTS LEFT?
The coaches went into the month of August and the dead period with 14 total commitments.
Here is a quick look at the current numbers, and the spots remaining in the 2020 class.
Current commits...
Offense: 8
Defense: 6
Spots remaining...
Of course these are ultimately guesses, however, the numbers are based off the coaches taking a full class of 25 prospects. The coaches can certainly take more than 25 prospects in the 2020 class, all depends on the overall scholarship numbers...but for conversation sake, let's stick to 25 today.
Offense - RB (1), WR (1-2), OL (2)
With the Alante Brown news this week, I'm next to certain the coaches will add another RB prospect in this 2020 class now. A few of the current RB/APB targets include Frank Brown, Stacy Sneed and Kendal Taylor.
There is one (1) spot left a wide receiver, and we have talked about Myles Price being that prospect for several weeks now. The coaches also really like Loic Founji from Midland Lee, and I have heard they would take him regardless of the numbers.
There is a need for at least two (2) more takes on the offensive line, and the coaches have a handful of targets, including Courtland Ford, Garrett Hayes, Tobias Braun, Cedric Melton (Arizona commit) and new JUCO target Brandon Coleman.
Defense - DE (2), DT (2), LB (3)
The coaches already have two (2) defensive ends committed and will likely take another couple of prospects at the position. One of the coaches' top targets at DE, Philip Blidi, is announcing his decision later today and it could happen before or after your chicken fried steak dinner today. The remaining targets could be revealed over the next two months, because the remaining offers are four-star nationally ranked prospects and I could see the coaches making new offers later this fall.
@B. Golan wrote about the remaining targets at DT earlier this week, and we addressed this in the 3-2-1 feature last week. It is one of the more interesting positions to follow in this 2020 class, because the coaches do not have a commitment and the current pool of targets is pretty small at the moment. After looking at this in detail, my overall takeaways is that the DT position is pretty weak across the state in this 2020 class. I'm sure that means a few 5.5. three-star prospects, or even a two-star prospect will outplay their ranking over time.
The linebacker targets are pretty well defined at this point, and after the big official visitors weekend earlier this summer, these prospects all said the same thing - "the coaches told me they have three spots in this 2020 class". The targets who all visited campus that week include Jaylan Ford, Jabar Triplett Jr. and Derrick Lewis II. Another prospect the coaches are actively recruiting and working to get on campus is Herbert Gums, listed as an athlete but recruiting as an outside linebacker.
It appears the coaches are done at defensive back for the 2020 class, but an official offer was sent to JUCO target Jonathan Riley last week. So maybe the coaches are done with high school prospects, key word maybe, for this class. I think it's important to remember that it is early August, and things can change a lot in 3-4 months.
----------
COMMITS GET RANKED, UPDATED CLASS RANKING
The Rivals national team came through with updated rankings for both John Holcomb and Je'Vaun Dabon last week.
These updated rankings added points (135) to the overall total for the 2020 class, giving the Red Raiders the No. 50 overall class in the nation.
Keep in mind that some programs have nearly 20 commitments or more at this point, and those programs are currently ranked higher than Texas Tech with a lower average star ranking.
The Red Raiders have 14 total commitments, one (1) four-star prospect, 12 three-star prospects and one (1) two-star prospect giving the program an average star ranking of 3 even.
As a reminder, here is a link that provides a full explanation of how the Rivals rankings are calculated.
The next movement in these rankings could come at quarterback, because Donovan Smith is currently a two-star prospect. @B. Soliz is headed to Frenship for practices starting next week and our goal is to grab video of Smith playing QB, gather some notes and make a case for young Donovan to receive a better ranking...so stay tuned.
Blidi received a 5.5 three-star ranking update earlier this week, and should the New Mexico standout choose the Red Raiders later today, the class would add 60 points to the current total of 960 points...which would move the class up to No. 45 in the nation - obviously barring other commits/activity around the nation - and one spot ahead of Oklahoma State.
----------
AROUND THE BIG 12 - CLASS RANKINGS
Each program will most likely add a commitment or two before the season starts later this month, but I wanted to take a look outside of the Texas Tech class and take a look around the Big 12 recruiting classes going into the season.
Big 12 2020 Team Rankings
1. Oklahoma - 15 commitments, 3.67 average star ranking - No. 18 class nationally
Latest commit:
Jalin Conyers
Top ranked commit:
Jase McClellan
2. Texas - 13 commitments, 3.54 average star ranking - No. 20 class nationally
Latest commit:
Ethan Pouncey
Top ranked commit:
Bijan Robinson
3. Kansas - 23 commitments, 2.74 average star ranking - No. 26 class nationally
Latest commit:
Brennon Scott
Top ranked commit:
See above
4. Iowa State - 19 commitments, 2.53 average star ranking - No. 35 class nationally
Latest commit:
Ar'Quel Smith
Top ranked commit:
Daniel Jackson
5. Kansas State - 18 commitments, 2.78 average star ranking - No. 36 class nationally
Latest commit:
Carver Willis
Top ranked commit:
Jeremiah Harris
6. Oklahoma State - 14 commitments, 2.86 average star ranking - No. 46 class nationally
Latest commit:
Monroe Mills
Top ranked commit:
Shane Illingworth
7. Texas Tech - 14 commitments, 3 average star ranking - No. 50 class nationally
Latest commit:
LB Moore
Top ranked commit:
Ja'Lynn Polk
8. West Virginia - 12 commitments, 3.08 average star ranking - No. 53 class nationally
Latest commit:
Quay Mays
Top ranked commit:
Chris Mayo
9. TCU - 11 commitments, 2.91 average star ranking - No. 54 class nationally
Latest commit:
Jimmy Holiday
Top ranked commit:
James Sylvester
10. Baylor - 13 commitments, 2.85 average star ranking - No. 62 class nationally
Latest commit:
Seth Jones
Top ranked commit:
See above
*hot take...when Texas is recruiting this well, it actually helps Texas Tech...change my mind
----------
TWO GOATS
Chris Beard was a guest of Nick Saban's at Alabama earlier in the week. He stopped in for a practice and met with arguably the greatest college football coach of all time.
I don't think just anyone gets that invite, Beard does it big...very impressive.
----------
IT'S A DANCE OFF
Graduate transfer RJ Turner posted a video of the team having some fun in the locker room earlier this week.
WHOA(S)
I did not read the whole story, but basically understood that this guy had his teenage daughter visit him in prison and bring him this get up...the wild part is that they changed clothes and she reportedly stayed in the jail - or tried to - before this dummy was caught.
As part of the Disney+ announcements, the streaming service announced plans to reboot the Home Alone series and Macaulay Culkin responded to the news with a funny tweet.
I for one would definitely sign up for the Home Alone: This is 40 reboot.
Jacksonville Jaguars all-pro CB Jalen Ramsey shared some news on a podcast earlier this week. The former Florida State CB says he left this strategy in college and does not use it currently in the NFL because 'these guys have wives, not girlfriends' - classy move.
But Ramsey used to contact the girlfriends of opposing wide receivers throughout his college career to mess with them, get the opponent triggered before the game even starts.
“Say I was playing a big receiver at whatever school, I would look up his Instagram and slide in his girlfriend’s DMs before the game,” Ramsey said on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast with Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, via TMZSports.com. “. . .People get hot about that.”
“I’ll say when I got to the league, though, I stopped that because now people got wives and stuff,” Ramsey said. “Somebody get shot over talking about somebody’s wives.”
So good...but does anyone really believe he 'stopped' doing this after joining the NFL, because I do not.
As always, the Friday Flare is brought to you by our friends at Gator's Bayou. Need an adult beverage to round out your week? Head over to the patio at Gator's Bayou and have a few this afternoon.
Check out their website and follow them on social media for more upcoming events.
----------
WEEKLY CLICKS
...a quick list of links from the various stories posted on RRS this week.
Expectations high for Benson following redshirt season
Takeaways: Wells transitions into fall camp with focus on development
Roundtable: What makes 2019 a success for Matt Wells?
Texas Tech's Thomas Leggett playing with a chip on his shoulder
Ranking the Texas Tech football 2019 schedule
Practice Two Notes and Takeaways
Cooks talks progress in secondary, move to Lubbock
Three players to watch during Texas Tech basketball's Bahamas trip
Highly skilled California shot maker Chibuzo Agbo visiting Texas Tech
Edwards continues growth since championship game
Takeaways: McIvor's progress, Ezukanma standing out and more
Koontz discusses transition to Lubbock, goals for upcoming season
----------
PODCAST LINKS
The guys posted two podcasts this week, give them a listen today...
Soliz and Dickens talk TTU football practice
Matador Report
-----------
2020 CLASS - SPOTS LEFT?
The coaches went into the month of August and the dead period with 14 total commitments.
Here is a quick look at the current numbers, and the spots remaining in the 2020 class.
Current commits...
Offense: 8
Defense: 6
Spots remaining...
Of course these are ultimately guesses, however, the numbers are based off the coaches taking a full class of 25 prospects. The coaches can certainly take more than 25 prospects in the 2020 class, all depends on the overall scholarship numbers...but for conversation sake, let's stick to 25 today.
Offense - RB (1), WR (1-2), OL (2)
With the Alante Brown news this week, I'm next to certain the coaches will add another RB prospect in this 2020 class now. A few of the current RB/APB targets include Frank Brown, Stacy Sneed and Kendal Taylor.
There is one (1) spot left a wide receiver, and we have talked about Myles Price being that prospect for several weeks now. The coaches also really like Loic Founji from Midland Lee, and I have heard they would take him regardless of the numbers.
There is a need for at least two (2) more takes on the offensive line, and the coaches have a handful of targets, including Courtland Ford, Garrett Hayes, Tobias Braun, Cedric Melton (Arizona commit) and new JUCO target Brandon Coleman.
Defense - DE (2), DT (2), LB (3)
The coaches already have two (2) defensive ends committed and will likely take another couple of prospects at the position. One of the coaches' top targets at DE, Philip Blidi, is announcing his decision later today and it could happen before or after your chicken fried steak dinner today. The remaining targets could be revealed over the next two months, because the remaining offers are four-star nationally ranked prospects and I could see the coaches making new offers later this fall.
@B. Golan wrote about the remaining targets at DT earlier this week, and we addressed this in the 3-2-1 feature last week. It is one of the more interesting positions to follow in this 2020 class, because the coaches do not have a commitment and the current pool of targets is pretty small at the moment. After looking at this in detail, my overall takeaways is that the DT position is pretty weak across the state in this 2020 class. I'm sure that means a few 5.5. three-star prospects, or even a two-star prospect will outplay their ranking over time.
The linebacker targets are pretty well defined at this point, and after the big official visitors weekend earlier this summer, these prospects all said the same thing - "the coaches told me they have three spots in this 2020 class". The targets who all visited campus that week include Jaylan Ford, Jabar Triplett Jr. and Derrick Lewis II. Another prospect the coaches are actively recruiting and working to get on campus is Herbert Gums, listed as an athlete but recruiting as an outside linebacker.
It appears the coaches are done at defensive back for the 2020 class, but an official offer was sent to JUCO target Jonathan Riley last week. So maybe the coaches are done with high school prospects, key word maybe, for this class. I think it's important to remember that it is early August, and things can change a lot in 3-4 months.
----------
COMMITS GET RANKED, UPDATED CLASS RANKING
The Rivals national team came through with updated rankings for both John Holcomb and Je'Vaun Dabon last week.
These updated rankings added points (135) to the overall total for the 2020 class, giving the Red Raiders the No. 50 overall class in the nation.
Keep in mind that some programs have nearly 20 commitments or more at this point, and those programs are currently ranked higher than Texas Tech with a lower average star ranking.
The Red Raiders have 14 total commitments, one (1) four-star prospect, 12 three-star prospects and one (1) two-star prospect giving the program an average star ranking of 3 even.
As a reminder, here is a link that provides a full explanation of how the Rivals rankings are calculated.
The next movement in these rankings could come at quarterback, because Donovan Smith is currently a two-star prospect. @B. Soliz is headed to Frenship for practices starting next week and our goal is to grab video of Smith playing QB, gather some notes and make a case for young Donovan to receive a better ranking...so stay tuned.
Blidi received a 5.5 three-star ranking update earlier this week, and should the New Mexico standout choose the Red Raiders later today, the class would add 60 points to the current total of 960 points...which would move the class up to No. 45 in the nation - obviously barring other commits/activity around the nation - and one spot ahead of Oklahoma State.
----------
AROUND THE BIG 12 - CLASS RANKINGS
Each program will most likely add a commitment or two before the season starts later this month, but I wanted to take a look outside of the Texas Tech class and take a look around the Big 12 recruiting classes going into the season.
Big 12 2020 Team Rankings
1. Oklahoma - 15 commitments, 3.67 average star ranking - No. 18 class nationally
Latest commit:
Jalin Conyers
Top ranked commit:
Jase McClellan
2. Texas - 13 commitments, 3.54 average star ranking - No. 20 class nationally
Latest commit:
Ethan Pouncey
Top ranked commit:
Bijan Robinson
3. Kansas - 23 commitments, 2.74 average star ranking - No. 26 class nationally
Latest commit:
Brennon Scott
Top ranked commit:
See above
4. Iowa State - 19 commitments, 2.53 average star ranking - No. 35 class nationally
Latest commit:
Ar'Quel Smith
Top ranked commit:
Daniel Jackson
5. Kansas State - 18 commitments, 2.78 average star ranking - No. 36 class nationally
Latest commit:
Carver Willis
Top ranked commit:
Jeremiah Harris
6. Oklahoma State - 14 commitments, 2.86 average star ranking - No. 46 class nationally
Latest commit:
Monroe Mills
Top ranked commit:
Shane Illingworth
7. Texas Tech - 14 commitments, 3 average star ranking - No. 50 class nationally
Latest commit:
LB Moore
Top ranked commit:
Ja'Lynn Polk
8. West Virginia - 12 commitments, 3.08 average star ranking - No. 53 class nationally
Latest commit:
Quay Mays
Top ranked commit:
Chris Mayo
9. TCU - 11 commitments, 2.91 average star ranking - No. 54 class nationally
Latest commit:
Jimmy Holiday
Top ranked commit:
James Sylvester
10. Baylor - 13 commitments, 2.85 average star ranking - No. 62 class nationally
Latest commit:
Seth Jones
Top ranked commit:
See above
*hot take...when Texas is recruiting this well, it actually helps Texas Tech...change my mind
----------
TWO GOATS
Chris Beard was a guest of Nick Saban's at Alabama earlier in the week. He stopped in for a practice and met with arguably the greatest college football coach of all time.
I don't think just anyone gets that invite, Beard does it big...very impressive.
----------
IT'S A DANCE OFF
Graduate transfer RJ Turner posted a video of the team having some fun in the locker room earlier this week.
WHOA(S)
I did not read the whole story, but basically understood that this guy had his teenage daughter visit him in prison and bring him this get up...the wild part is that they changed clothes and she reportedly stayed in the jail - or tried to - before this dummy was caught.
As part of the Disney+ announcements, the streaming service announced plans to reboot the Home Alone series and Macaulay Culkin responded to the news with a funny tweet.
I for one would definitely sign up for the Home Alone: This is 40 reboot.
Jacksonville Jaguars all-pro CB Jalen Ramsey shared some news on a podcast earlier this week. The former Florida State CB says he left this strategy in college and does not use it currently in the NFL because 'these guys have wives, not girlfriends' - classy move.
But Ramsey used to contact the girlfriends of opposing wide receivers throughout his college career to mess with them, get the opponent triggered before the game even starts.
“Say I was playing a big receiver at whatever school, I would look up his Instagram and slide in his girlfriend’s DMs before the game,” Ramsey said on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast with Taylor Lewan and Will Compton, via TMZSports.com. “. . .People get hot about that.”
“I’ll say when I got to the league, though, I stopped that because now people got wives and stuff,” Ramsey said. “Somebody get shot over talking about somebody’s wives.”
So good...but does anyone really believe he 'stopped' doing this after joining the NFL, because I do not.
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