it was a busy week in Raiderland and we have a ton to cover.
it's Friday, let's Flare...
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WEEKLY LINKS
Taylor-Demerson, Brooks post career nights en route to Tech victory
Morton, Hutchings lead Tech in right direction, look ahead past TCU
Film Review: TCU
Final assessment of win over TCU
McCasland speaks on exhibition, final touches ahead of season opener
Texas Tech makes a move for elite WR Kelshaun Johnson following visit
Grading the Red Raiders: Morton provides boost for TTU on Thursday night
McGuire Notebook - Kansas
2024 Texas Tech commits and targets tracker: Week 11
Kittley, DeRuyter look toward Lawrence, plan to contain explosive Jayhawks
Baskerville making quick adjustments at new position
After daunting rehab, Rodriguez's return spells good fortunes for Tech
All engines running as McCasland era reaches lift off for Tech basketball
Four-star QB Lloyd Jones III details Tech pledge
Tech rolls A&M-Commerce in McCasland's debut, 73-46
McCasland aware of miscues, excited by win over Texas A&M-Commerce
JayhawkSlant's Kirby frames out balanced Kansas side
2025 OL Mark Handy picks up first offer from TTU
Red Raiders offer 2025 LB Brock Golwas who says he's "grown up a Tech fan"
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TTU RECRUITING THIS WEEK
the Texas Tech coaches landed the program's 2025 QB commitment, there were a ton of new offers handed out, 2025 recruiting is rolling right now, we look at a few 2024 commitment notes and more...
new 2025 commitment
Hitchcock 2025 dual-threat quarterback Lloyd Jones III committed to the Red Raiders last Saturday. the 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior prospect chose the Red Raiders over offers from Colorado State, North Texas, Texas State and UTSA.
the coaches offered Jones III on October 1st and made him a priority at the quarterback position. at the time of his commitment, Jones III was listed as an 'Athlete' with no rating, and by the end of the weekend he was listed as a 'Dual Threat Quarterback" and received a 5.8 four-star rating from the Rivals team.
Rivals - 5.8 four-star ranking
247 - 88 rating (three-star), No. 22 QB in the nation, No. 47 overall prospect in Texas
On3 - 91 rating (four-star), No. 116 rated prospect nationally, No. 9 overall QB prospect and the No. 22 overall prospect in Texas
Jones led Hitchcock to a 9-1 record this season, finishing the regular season with 2,598 yards with 34 touchdowns to only four (4) interceptions passing along with 576 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing.
in the interview linked above, Jones III describes himself as a 'Red Raider for life' - so the coaches have their man at quarterback for the 2025 class, and like any good quarterback commitment, Jones III is already turning heads on the recruiting trail with his decision.
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TTU 2025 recruiting is heating up...
the Red Raiders now hold three (3) verbal commitments for the 2025 recruiting class, currently ranked as the No. 32 overall class in the nation
specifically with Jones III's commitment, other 2025 recruits were taking notice and this momentum on the recruiting trail could continue for the TTU coaches
Jones III's teammate at Hitchcock, four-star athlete Kelshaun Johnson, is a prospect to watch. the two have grown up and played football together since a young age
both wide receiver Terrence Lewis and running back Jaquise Martin were tweeting about Texas Tech and Jones' decision this past week
in addition to these targets on offense, Cypress Falls linebacker Kaleb 'KB' Burns was also tweeting about TTU and showing interest in joining the 2025 class
we also profiled Kenenedy (Iowa) offensive tackle Nick Brooks in last week's Flare and at the time he was verbally committed to Iowa, but earlier this week Brooks reopened his recruitment following the visit to Texas Tech. his cousin is 2023 walk-on defensive back Miles Thompson and, if you recall, Thompson's family actually relocated to Lubbock from Iowa once he graduated and moved onto college. could the allure of having family in town and an immediate opportunity to play help sway Brooks to the Red Raiders...(?)...seems like it has the Rivals 250 prospect's attention for sure. the four-star standout also spent time with new 2025 QB commitment Lloyd Jones III during the visit.
with nearly a month until the early signing period for the 2024 class, it is great to see an early start to the 2025 recruiting class with a ton of momentum with top targets
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new offers
the Texas Tech coaches offered Garden City C.C. tight end Alexander Lines this week. the 6-foot-5, 255-pound junior college prospect holds five (5) offers from Akron, New Mexico State, Eastern Michigan, New Mexico and your Red Raiders. Lines is a December graduate and will have three (3) years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.
the Texas Tech coaches were the first to offer Second Baptist 2025 offensive tackle R.J. Lee this week. the 6-foot-9, 330-pound junior prospect now holds two (2) early offers from Boston College and your Red Raiders. the standout prospect visited Florida, Georgia Tech and Georgia over the summer.
the Texas Tech coaches were the first to offer Flower Mound Marcus athlete Brock Golwas this week. the 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior prospect camped with the Red Raiders this summer and is a standout on both the Marcus baseball team and his club/travel team.
the Texas Tech coaches offered Timpson 2025 athlete J.J. Garner this week. the 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior prospect now holds three (3) early offers from Oregon State, UTSA and your Red Raiders. the standout prospect unofficially visited Lubbock for the program's home game against Houston this season.
the Texas Tech coaches offered Willis 2026 offensive guard Day'Jon Moore this week. the 6-foot-4, 305-pound sophomore prospect now holds two (2) early offers from UTSA and your Red Raiders. the standout prospect is the nephew of former Red Raider wide receiver Darrin Moore.
the Texas Tech coaches offered Willis 2026 athlete Jermaine Bishop Jr. this week. the 6-foot, 148-pound sophomore prospect now holds 13 offers from programs across the country, including offers from Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, TCU, Texas A&M and your Red Raiders. listed as an athlete, Bishop Jr. plays both sides of the ball for Willis at a high level and the underclassmen will be a national recruit in the 2026 class.
the Texas Tech coaches offered Mill Valley (Kansas) 2025 defensive end Jayden Woods this week. the 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior prospect now holds 21 offers from programs across the country, including offers from Alabama, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee and your Red Raiders. Woods also competes on the varsity track & field and wrestling teams at Mill Valley.
the Texas Tech coaches offered Prosper 2026 offensive tackle Zaden Krempkin this week. the 6-foot-5, 255-pound sophomore prospect now holds seven (7) early offers from Baylor, Nebraska, SMU, Houston, Texas State, UTSA and your Red Raiders.
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a few 2024 commitment notes...
this is a pretty cool video of longtime Texas Tech quarterback commitment Will Hammond, a 'day in the life' style video where you get a glimpse into how Hammond prepares on a daily basis going into a gameday
to say this was not my high school experience is a major understatement, but the average high school kid is not taking online courses to graduate early while also working out, studying film and practicing with teammates.
we had already learned that Hammond is very mature for his age, but I thought watching the video that his personality and his 'why' showed quite a bit.
Hammond and the Hutto Hippos will face reigning state champions Duncanville tonight in the first round of the playoffs
when Dave Campbell's Texas Football released their 'Rising' recruiting guide for the 2023-24 season this week, the folks at DCTF featured longtime Texas Tech commitment Micah Hudson as the cover...a pretty cool honor for the five-star talent out of Lake Belton
Hudson and the Lake Belton Broncos will face Denton Ryan tonight in the first round of the playoffs
yes, he is rated as a four-star prospect...but it still feels like Sachse OLB and longtime Texas Tech commitment Cheta Ofili is a little bit 'slept on' when it comes to this 2024 recruiting class
Ofili has a ton of upside and is just starting to figure out the OLB/DE position from a footwork and technique standpoint...in the video above, Ofili simply puts the opposing lineman on skates and forces the QB into a mistake that resulted in a huge loss.
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some weekly honors and TTU related posts
Dadrion 'Rabbit' Taylor-Demerson was rewarded for his standout performance against TCU last week wiht the East-West Shrine Bowl defensive breakout player of the week award.
his four (4) tackles, three (3) solo tackles and two (2) interceptions helped propel the Red Raiders to victory and Rabbit's final season is Lubbock has people taking notice of the defensive standout.
we all know that Tahj Brooks is having a great season, but leading the nation is forced missed tackles this deep into the season is something else
simply put, this team goes the way Brooks goes...if he can stack success and move the football against Kansas this weekend, then the Red Raiders have a great chance at knocking off the No. 16 Jayhawks in Lawrence
look, there are multiple examples of things like this and the little things like this really matter in all aspects of life...mostly because it is 'easy' to assume every program takes the time to send a sincere 'congrats' message to high school coaches around the state, but it is a whole other thing to systematically have your entire staff writing hand-written letters to coaching staffs around the state
ok, no real commentary on this one...just had to share in case someone had not seen the incredible drone show from last week's home game against TCU
what did that thing look like in person???
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the CFB weekend - what to watch
let's take a look around the CFB weekend and help plan your Saturday...
tonight
8pm - North Texas at SMU on ESPN2
Saturday
11am - No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State on Fox
11am - No. 8 Alabama at Kentucky on ESPN
11am - Texas Tech at No. 16 Kansas on FS1
2:30pm - Miami at No. 4 Florida State on ABC
2:30pm - No. 18 Utah at No. 5 Washington on Fox
2:30pm - No. 13 Tennessee at No. 14 Missouri on CBS
2:30pm - No. 15 Oklahoma State at UCF on ESPN
6pm - No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia on ESPN
6pm - West Virginia at No. 17 Oklahoma on Fox
6:30pm - No. 7 Texas at TCU on ABC
6:30pm - Florida at No. 19 LSU on SEC Network
9:30pm - USC at No. 6 Oregon on Fox
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Recruiting - Around the Big 12
we look around the new-look conference this week after more new commitments were made, the rankings are updated and the Red Raiders retain the top class in the conference...
*listed in current Big 12 rankings order, new programs now officially added to the Rivals rankings list - plus a new 'look' or design from the Rivals team on these lists/pages
*per request, I have added the 'new' Big 12 programs that will join the conference next season - Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Arizona State - and removed Oklahoma and Texas
Texas Tech - 20 total commitments, No. 23 class in the nation
the Red Raiders did not add a new commitment this week...
UCF - 17 total commitments, No. 29 class in the nation
the Golden Knights did not add a new commitment this week...
TCU - 18 total commitments, No. 38 class in the nation
the Horned Frogs did not add a new commitment this week...
West Virginia - 20 total commitments, No. 40 class in the nation
the Mountaineers did not add a new commitment this week...
Arizona - 22 total commitments, No. 42 class in the nation
the Wildcats did not add a new commitment this week...
Cincinnati - 23 total commitments, No. 43 class in the nation
the Bearcats did not add a new commitments this week...
Kansas - 16 total commitments, No. 49 class in the nation
the Jayhawks did not add a new commitment this week...
Iowa State - 18 total commitments, No. 51 class in the nation
the Cyclones did not add a new commitment this week...
Oklahoma State - 15 total commitments, No. 57 class in the nation
the Cowboys did not add a new commitment this week...
Baylor - 14 total commitments, No. 59 class in the nation
the Bears did not add a new commitment this week...
Colorado - 10 total commitments, No. 62 class in the nation
the Buffs did not add a new commitment this week...
BYU - 15 total commitments, No. 66 class in the nation
the Cougars did not add a new commitment this week...
Utah - 10 total commitments, No. 70 class in the nation
the Utes did not add a new commitment this week...
Kansas State - 11 total commitments, No. 82 class in the nation
the Wildcats did not add a new commitment this week...
Houston - eight (8) total commitments, No. 98 class in the nation
the Cougars did not add a new commitment this week...
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have a great weekend everyone!
