it is a night game blackout in Lubbock, Texas...let's goooooooooooooooooooooooooo
it is Friday, let's Flare...
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WEEKLY CLICKS
...a quick list of links from the various stories posted on RRS this week
Red Raiders offer Johnston (Iowa) multi-sport ATH Jacob Simpson
Breaking Down Daniels, Stills and the West Virginia offense
Staff Predictions: Can Favored Red Raiders Take Care of Business?
Injury Report: Mills, the Game Time Decisoins & the Quarterback
Texas Tech runs by West Virginia on Homecoming, 48-10
Soliz: Texas Tech's Morton shows why he needs to run offense rest of season
McGuire provides injury updates, recaps steamrolling of West Virginia
Visitor reactions to Texas Tech's blowout win vs WVU
Things I Liked & Disliked Against West Virginia
Grading the Red Raiders: Solid showing by offensive line leads TTU over WVU
Texas Tech's McGuire doesn't name starting QB for next game against Baylor
McGuire provides injury updates on key players including Shough, Price
Texas Tech's Behren Morton named Big 12 newcomer of the week
Kittley, DeRuyter break down Bears scheme ahead of weekend tilt
Week 9 Big 12 Power Rankings: Frogs on top, Texas Tech climbing
McGuire, Baylor set for reunion, Shough cleared, Mahomes' return and more
Red Raiders in the NFL: 2022 Week Seven
Brooks, Williams, & Others Break Down Baylor's Game Plan
Texas Tech commits and targets tracker: Week Nine
Tracking Red Raiders: Mbannassor's big day behind the line of scrimmage
Louisiana WR Kelly Daniels to visit Texas Tech this weekend
Kevin Lonnquist breaks down Baylor ahead of weekend matchup in Lubbock
Fear the Dark: Texas Tech hosts Baylor in night game at the Jones
Big 12 announces schedule for upcoming baseball season
Aranda: "I know the environment in Lubbock will be a good one"
RRS TV: Rivals National Analyst Nick Harris
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TTU RECRUITING THIS WEEK
no new commitments this week, a handful of new 2024 offers made this week...
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/j-j-harrell-283009
North Panola (MS) wide receiver announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect now holds 10 offers, including offers from LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Oregon, Penn State and others.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/joseph-jonah-ajonye-295070
Oak Ridge (TX) defensive end announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. The 6-foot-4, 235-poun prospect now holds five (5) offers from Texas Tech, SMU, Arizona State, UTSA and Texas A&M Commerce.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/ellis-davis-290189
Prosper (TX) offensive tackle announced an offer from the Red Raiders this week. The offer is the first for the 6-foot-8, yes 6-foot-8, 260-pound prospect. Currently unranked by Rivals, Davis unofficially visited Lubbock for the Texas Tech overtime win against Texas earlier this season.
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BIG HOME GAME, BIG-TIME VISITORS IN TOWN
shout out to @B. Golan for putting together this list of weekend visitors, with more names to be added for certain
the 2023 class is essentially wrapped up, so the 'stars' of this visitors list are the 19 prospects from the 2024 class - 18 of them with a current offer from the Texas Tech coaches
Hudson is a Texas Tech legacy, five-star prospect and reportedly has a really good relationship with Texas Tech Director of Scouting Brian Nance. His recruitment is crowded and while the Red Raiders are certainly in the game, things will play out well into this time next year.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/j-koby-williams-284736
Williams is an intriguing prospect, rated early as a 5.7 three-star prospect and early offers from Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas and UTSA.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/william-hammond-283401
Hammond returns to Lubbock for another visit and represents one of two 2024 quarterbacks in town for the game tomorrow. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect has 145 completions for 2,114 yards and 23 touchdowns to two (2) interceptions passing along with 80 carries for 487 yards and six (6) touchdowns rushing through eight (8) games this season, per MaxPreps.
Kittley and the coaches have options at quarterback for the 2024 class with eight (8) listed offers to junior prospect, but Hammond seems to be one of three prospects the coaches have been talking with the most.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/holton-hendrix-285708
Another home game, another visit for local four-star offensive tackle Holton Hendrix. Another common theme here is that Hendrix, like many of these prospects, is also being recruited by the Baylor coaching staff...so a win can certainly go a long way in persuading these prospects, including young Holton, that Texas Tech and Lubbock is the place to be.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/caleb-mitchell-irving-273759
Mitchell-Irving holds 21 offers from programs across the country and the 5.7 three-star prospect is returning to Lubbock after visiting for the pool party earlier this summer.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/brock-jackson-285312
Jackson is a longtime target for the Texas Tech coaches and has a close relationship with James Blanchard. The 5.7 three-star prospect holds nine (9) early offers and is having a great junior season that should lead to several more offers in the off-season.
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OBLIGATORY JOEY MCGUIRE "GETS IT" POST
I know, I know...this was posted like 4-5 times this week, but it deserves a mention here on the weekly Flare
Joey McGuire and his staff went back to basics this week, mailing a picture of current Texas Tech players to their high school coach and football department with a 'thank you' letter
as someone who has visited many a high school football program, this means a ton to high school coaches and many will have a 'wall of fame' if you will and these 8x10 pictures are hung on the wall as an ode to the program's former players who have gone on to play college or NFL football
if you somehow missed the other 4-5 threads about this, here is an example...
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BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS
in the battle of purple teams, TCU did it again and stays a top of the Big 12 power rankings this week...
1. TCU
The now No. 7 Horned Frogs remain undefeated after another comeback win at home against a ranked opponent last weekend. Another common theme is this TCU team playing against a backup quarterback, which is usually something they have caused, so full credit to the Horned Frogs there...but the 'luck' factor of facing multiple backups over the past month of football is certainly an interesting tidbit. The matchup this weekend against West Virginia, on the road at 11am, seems like a let down spot after two (2) comeback wins at home against ranked opponents in Oklahoma State and Kansas State. That being said, the Mountaineers are reeling and might not be very good, so let down or upset might not be likely.
2. Oklahoma State
The now No. 9 Cowboys won a home game against the Longhorns with a second half comeback last weekend. It was another second half meltdown from Sark and the Longhorns, more on that later, but full credit to Oklahoma State who avoided two (2) back to back losses in conference after dropping a second half lead to TCU the weekend before. The fun does not stop for the Cowboys this weekend as they travel to Manhattan for a matchup against the No. 22 ranked Kansas State Wildcats, who might be without starting quarterback Adrian Martinez.
3. Kansas State
The now No. 22 ranked Wildcats had TCU on the mat in the first half and could not quite finish the game in the second half. They were without starting quarterback Adrian Martinez, who went down with an injury early in the game. It sounds like Kansas State will be playing a backup quarterback again this weekend against No. 9 Oklahoma State at home in a game where the Wildcats need a win to remain in the Big 12 conference title race. A loss this weekend could leave them outside of the Top 25 and out of the conference title conversation.
4. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are now 4-3 on the season, winning four (4) games at home and losing three (3) games on the road. The good news is that Texas Tech hosts Baylor for a night game, a blackout in The Jones tomorrow. This is not an official rivalry game, but the overall series is very close with the Bears and the storylines are rich with new head coach Joey McGuire along with several other staff members coming from Baylor this past off-season. While the team has played well at home this season, winning this game is important for the Red Raiders who will finish the season with games @TCU, Kansas, @Iowa State and Oklahoma.
5. Texas
As we covered above, the Longhorns dropped yet another second half lead this past weekend, losing to Oklahoma State on the road. The Longhorns have certainly faced injury issues at the quarterback position, but that will not receive any sympathy from Red Raider fans. The main story has been the inconsistency this season, barely losing to Alabama at home and then losing to Texas Tech on the road in overtime. It could be argued they could have easily lost to Iowa State at home after dominating the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma 49-0. The Longhorns are now 5-3 on the season and have a much needed bye week this weekend, then Texas finishes the season with games against @Kansas State, TCU, @Kansas and Baylor.
6. Oklahoma
The 4-3 Sooners stay at number six in the rankings this week coming off the bye. Oklahoma travels to Iowa State this weekend for an 11am kickoff against the Cyclones, not an easy place to play. Defense has been the main issue for these Sooners, with the OU defense giving up an average of 47 points per game in four (4) conference games this season. The good news is that Iowa State is not doing well on offense this season, but the Sooners need to put together a complete game in order to win against Iowa State on the road.
7. Baylor
The Bears are 4-3 on the season and won a home game against Kansas last weekend. The Jayhawks were playing a backup quarterback and Baylor cruised to a victory through three (3) quarters, then tried to make things interesting in the fourth quarter. As we know, Baylor travels to Lubbock for a night game against your Red Raiders tomorrown night, and the Bears are now 1-2 in road games this season - winning @Iowa State and dropping close games @BYU and @West Virginia. This Baylor team will challenge the Texas Tech defense with their offensive skill talent, but the Bears defense is allowing points in conference and this should be a very competitive/close game.
8. Kansas
This feels low for the 5-3 Jayhawks, but the team has been reeling a bit since losing starting quarterback Jalon Daniels and going from undefeated and hosting college gameday to three (3) straight conference losses. They have a much needed bye week this weekend, but things do not get easier after the bye as the Jayhawks will host No. 9 Oklahoma State. From there, they finished with games @Texas Tech, Texas and @Kansas State.
9. West Virginia
The Mountaineers are now 3-4 on the season and could simply not get anything done on offense last weekend in Lubbock, scoring only 10 points. Things do not get easier as they look to rebound at home tomorrow at 11am against No. 7 TCU. West Virginia has been able to score points at home this season and could catch the Horned Frogs in a let down spot tomorrow, but it will take a complete game with points scored on offense and some takeaways on defense against a high-powered TCU offense. The Mountaineers finish the season with games @Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas State and @Oklahoma State.
10. Iowa State
The Cyclones are now 3-4 on the season and 0-4 in conference play. They host a not-so-Oklahoma team at home for an 11am kickoff tomorrow, so the Cyclones have an opportunity to win their first conference game against a program they seem to beat on a somewhat regular basis. Iowa State is averaging a tad over 16 points per game in four (4) conference games this season, which is the main reason they remain winless in conference this season. It is safe to say Oklahoma will score points and the Cyclones will have to either stop them on defense or keep up on offense to win. They finish the season with games against West Virginia, @Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and @TCU.
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have a great weekend everyone!
