what a week, national championship and a ton of movement around the CFB coaching carousel / transfer portal
it is Friday, let's Flare...
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WEEKLY LINKS
RRS TV: Aiden Meeks
Keys to the Game: Oklahoma
Final seconds prove costly: Isaacs & Batcho game-time decisions
Georgia transfer KyeRon Lindsay returns home, commits to Texas Tech
Bob Przbylo of SoonerScoop chats Oklahoma ahead of swing-game in Lubbock
Isaacs, Batcho absent from warmups, not expected against Oklahoma
Texas Tech falls to Oklahoma in overtime despite effort from Harmon
Bill Seals of CycloneReport chats Iowa State ahead of matchup in Ames
Way Too Early Breakout Candidates: Defense
Texas Tech looks to avoid 0-4 start in Big 12 play in trip to Iowa State
Keys to the Game: Iowa State
Texas Tech's WRs coach Emmett Jones poached by Oklahoma
Pop Isaacs, Daniel Batcho expected to play against Iowa State
Texas Tech boat-raced by Iowa State in Ames, 84-50
A look back at the "blue chip" prospects on Texas Tech's 2023 roster
By the Numbers: Texas Tech's Unlikely Winning Streak to Close 2022
Top recruits talk new Texas Tech assistant coach Juice Johnson
Coach Snapshot: Justin "Juice" Johnson
Way Too Early Breakout Candidates: Offense
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TTU RECRUITING THIS WEEK
there have been a handful of commitments over the break, some new 2024 commits and some new transfer portal additions...
new 2024 commit
@B. Golan and I will have more on Cardenas and his decision later today, but this coaching staff does not stop and is now already at seven (7!) commitments for the 2024 class.
Cardenas is a big back who, surprise surpise, also competed at the state T&F championships in the 100m last year. He chose the Red Raiders over offers from Colorado, SMU, Colorado State and UTSA.
portal/transfer additions
the coaches made it a clean sweep with transfer portal visitors turned into commitments with Syracuse defensive end Steve Linton's commitment earlier this week.
the Georgia native had some injury issues early in his career at Syracuse, but had a full season of production this past season and really popped on tape...the Texas Tech coaches are really excited about his addition and feel that Linton could develop into an all-conference edge rusher with NFL draft potential.
going back to the holiday break, the Tech coaches landed some pretty big additions through the transfer portal - Wide Receiver Drae McCray and Center Rusty Staats
both are instant impact additions, McCray a speedy receiver who can stretch the defense - rated as a 4-star and the No. 89 overall transfer prospect - and Staats is a multi-year starter from Western Kentucky who can become the team's starting Center - rated as a 3-star and the No. 344 overall transfer prospect.
the coaches also added a preferred walk-on commitment from Mississippi Gulf Coast kicker Gabriel Showalter, and you can never have enough options in the kicking game
late 2023 addition
another holiday addition for the coaches came from a familiar name, Rockwall wide receiver Aiden Meeks, the son of former Texas Tech safety Vincent Meeks.
the two-star prospect is a preferred walk-on to begin his career and is already enrolled at Texas Tech for classes this semester as an early graduate. he finished this past season at Rockwall with 47 receptions for 839 yards and seven (7) touchdowns this season.
new offers
the coaches offered Arlington Bowie 2024 safety Kristopher Wokomah over the holiday break. the standout defender has already visited campus in 2022 and trains with former Texas Tech defensive back Junior Osunde.
the 6-foot, 180-pound prospect holds offers from Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, SMU, Washington State, UTSA and a handful of others.
@Ben connected with Wokomah after the offer, read here
the coaches went North to the Sooner state and offered Wagoner (OK) 2025 defensive end Alex Shieldnight. at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, the standout underclassman already holds three (3) early offers from Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State - so certainly a prospect who could become a national name sooner than later.
putting the boys on scholarship
these videos are always the best, not as much drama or 'surprise' as others, but what a moment for these young men - OL Dennis Wilburn and WR Nehemiah Martinez
Junior Day - 2023
this image starting showing up on social media this past week from a handful of 2024 targets, so it appears one of the Junior Days or Prospects Days is happening on March 6th
there are already 5-6 players confirmed, but Ben and I will start collecting a full list throughout the next few weeks, then post an on-going list of expected attendees
transfers leaving the program
with the good news comes some bad or not-so-great news when players leave the program
these were expected and mutal decisions similar to others, but a pair of players announced their intention to transfer yesterday - WR Trey Cleveland and DL Sincere Massey
some former players that were already in the portal announced commitments to their new schools this past week...
DL Philip Blidi - Indiana
CB Kobe Minor - Indiana
OL Larry Moore - UNT
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Texas Tech WR Coaching - Days of Lives Edition
what a week, I definitely had a swing and miss on the whole Emmett Jones situation...let's recap
I received a message from our OU site last week asking if there was any smoke around Jones leaving Tech for OU, and hand up, I had no clue at the time...so common sense, I text Level and the guys to share and begin digging into it further
we immediately heard that there was not much to this, so we waited and eventually Ben posted his thread about the possibility...just to make sure it was out there as just that - a possibility
the rumors persisted, so I went straight to L0/L1 sources - make of that what you will - and the rumor or news of Jones talking to Oklahoma was shot down..."they must only be inquiring, I have not heard anything"
that was earlier this week...hence my confidence posting on Tuesday morning, literally the same day the national media and then eventually OU announcing the hire of Emmett Jones
I was wrong, got some bad info and it happens...
but more importantly, what Joey McGuire and this administration did in response was nothing short of incredible...you have to feel confident in the future of this program, because this guy does not mess around
we can all have an opinion on Jones, but as I posted, did not expect him to leave for several reasons and he would have to 'bet on himself' with leaving...so good for him
the hire of Justin "Juice" Johnson only a day later was a big move for McGuire, bringing in a well-connected and respected coach at the college level, but more importantly someone who understands his style of coaching and will help embody 'the brand' at Texas Tech
this marks yet another coach to leave a steady/cush job at Baylor to move to 'the desert' in Lubbock...forget the Baylor thing, over the years the Texas Tech program did not hire away sitting coaches from conference opponents
they hired coaches away from Houston, North Texas or promoted guys from an assistant to a DC or OC...this is massively different and another indicator of the overall investment and support for the football program - both financially and the overall confidence in what Joey McGuire is doing
there has been a ton posted and written about Johnson already, but on the field he knows the WR position and off the field he is a relentless recruiter that 'gets it' when it comes to what I call 'modern' recruiting
I know we want everyone else to fail and hate them, but I truly feel this can be a win-win swap for both OU and Texas Tech...because did Jones really want to be here, no...clearly Johnson admires McGuire and the other staffers he worked with at Baylor previously
this is all-in-all a major win for the Texas Tech football program
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QB commit Will Hammond - blowing up
Hammond committed to the Red Raiders a month ago, and at the time his offer list read - Texas Tech, UTSA, Incarnate Word, Tartelton State.
the three-star prospect announced his commitment, then several programs - including Auburn, Oregon, Penn State and last night Texas A&M have offered the talented quarterback
the good part about being 'early' is the relationship and early commitment, but we have seen players like Calvin Simpson-Hunt who love TTU and the coaches eventually flip to the perceived 'bigger' program
my gut feel is that this isnt' the case for Hammond, I would expect him to take some visits, but he was very confident in his decision and continue to recruit and tout the Red Raiders on social media
anything can happen, look at Baylor losing their QB commit Austin Novasad on signing day to Oregon...so as always, we expect anything and everything
the 2024 QB dominoes have already fallen with the top rated prospects in Texas - D.J. Lagway (Florida), Mabrey Mettauer (Wisconsin), Marcos Davila (TCU), Trey Owens (Texas) and Hammond (Texas Tech)
this is why the A&M and other offers are incredible to see for Hammond as a recognition of his talent as a quarterback, but these programs have other QB offers and are programs that recruit nationally...add to that McGuire and Kittley are directly involved and it makes me feel much more confident about Hammond's long term commitment/signing with the Red Raiders
...for now
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Big 12 Recruiting - 2023 'Final' Rankings
Texas: No. 3 class nationally, No. 1 in the Big 12
quick thought - when we look back at this 2023 quarterback class, will Arch Manning live up to the 5-star and No. 1 player in the nation billing? I vote no.
Oklahoma: No. 7 class nationally, No. 2 in the Big 12
quick thought - speaking of quarterbacks, Jackson Arnold is the next star QB for the Sooners, really like his game...also, for all of the Venables did a bad job in year one comments, this signing class is chalk full of stars and he is rebuilding the defense with prospects from across the country (fwiw)
TCU: No. 19 class nationally, No. 3 in the Big 12
quick thought - the Horned Frogs had a rough week, but from a recruiting standpoint, the finish to the defensive side of their class included multiple four-star prospects and some big uglies on the DL
Texas Tech: No. 23 class nationally, No. 4 in the Big 12
quick thought - four (4) four-star and nine (9) 5.7 three-star prospects signed, along with 10+ early enrollees...incredible start to McGuire's first 'full' class and Top 25 in the nation sets the bar moving forward
Baylor: No. 27 class nationally, No. 5 in the Big 12
quick thought - I'm sure there are some gems in the class, but losing Novasad to Oregon at the last minute has this class trending down...but* I do like the DL haul and trust the evals from someone like Aranda
Kansas State: No. 29 class nationally, No. 6 in the Big 12
quick thought - keeping QB Avery Johnson at home in Kansas was a huge win for the Wildcats and he appears to be the future, standing out in camps and the UA AA game over the break
West Virginia: No. 35 class nationally, No. 7 in the Big 12
quick thought - in a make or break, hot seat type of season Neil Brown and his staff kept together a class and finished strong...to me, No. 35 class in the nation with 20 commitments is very solid given their situation
Iowa State: No. 39 class nationally, No. 8 in the Big 12
quick thought - recruiting analysts across the industry are big fans of QB signee and four-star prospect J.J. Kohl, who like Avery Johnson was a standout at various camps and the UA AA game over the holiday
Oklahoma State: No. 61 class nationally, No. 9 in the Big 12
quick thought - no four-star prospects signed, only 17 total commitments in a small class this cycle...but very few 'head to head' wins against conference opponents and not trending in the right direction
Kansas: No. 81 class nationally, No. 10 in the Big 12
quick thoughts - only 12 total commitments, maybe the Jayhawks are going portal heavy or working scholarship numbers going into the 2024 recruiting cycle...but no four-stars signed, it is bold strategy
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have a great weekend everyone!
