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Williams Expecting An Offer
Kenny Williams will be attending Texas Tech's junior day next Saturday and,
after speaking with running backs coach Chad Scott recently, he expects to
receive an official offer during the visit.
"Last time I talked to Coach Scott was the 13th right after my SAT and told him
I just took my SAT and that I would get the scores to him as soon as possible,"
Williams said. "We talked a little bit about the junior day and that I was still
going to be there and basically he said they were going to offer me when I get
down there. "
Williams, a member of the 2011 Rivals250 watch list, said that although Tech has
always been his favorite team, he has never made a trip to Lubbock and is very
excited to see the campus and meet the coaches.
"I like the traditions that Tech has and they always try to recruit top
players," Williams said, "so I know I'm going to have tough competition at any
time that I'm there, if I do choose Tech and for now, I like that Coach (Tommy)
Tuberville has come in and the coaching staff is going to run the ball a lot
more, and that puts them ahead of the game, too."
The 5-foot-10, 206-pound standout acknowledged that he grew up rooting for the
Red Raiders but noted that he is going to approach the decision-making process
in a business-like manner.
"Right now," Williams explained, "I'm just taking it as a business matter --
checking out the school and seeing if Tech is still on top after I visit and
everything and keep that as an option."
During his trip to the South Plains, Williams wants to get a better feel for the
program's coaching staff, explore the campus and find out more about his chosen
major
"I want to have a more personal relationship with the coaches, find out more
about them and the players," Williams said. "I want to check out some of the new
facilities that they are getting there, and I would like to find out a little
bit more about the engineering program."
Smith Checks In
We spoke with El Dorado (Kan.) Butler County C.C. defensive end
Scott Smith, one of Texas Tech's 2010 signees, late this week and he
confirmed that he will be arriving on the South Plains on June 1. He told us
that he is anxious to join the program and has just been getting ready for the
challenge.
"Working out, training, getting focused, and getting ready for the season,"
Smith said is all he has been doing lately. "It feels good. I want to play some
big-time ball. I want to play, so I'm excited."
The 6-foot-7, 245-pound standout said he touches base with the Red Raider
coaching staff about once a week. Smith was originally expected to enroll at
midterm but the program's coaching transition threw him for a bit of a loop.
"At first I was little bit sick of it," Smith said, "but after they called me
and talked to me it was pretty cool. And they are going to come out here in a
few weeks, I guess they are recruiting, and I'm going to meet them, but I'm
alright with it. So far, over the phone, they sound like pretty cool guys."
Smith, the nation's No. 4 JUCO prospect in the 2010 class, acknowledged that he
was initially concerned with Texas Tech's transition to a base 3-4 defensive
alignment but those have abated over the last couple of months.
"I think I fit better at a 4-3," Smith said. "I rush off the edge, I create a
mismatch because I have pretty good size, but the thing they were telling me is
they were going to switch it up and I don't know. I don't know, I'm not worried
about, I'm excited."
Premium Q&A: Tommy Mainord
Are you settling in nicely here at your new gig?
TM: "Yeah, we are settling in great. We are trying to get
everything done here as fast as we can. We were catching up on senior
recruiting, trying to save the class we had and then also trying to catch up on
junior recruiting. You know a lot of people do not realize how far that has gone
because we were so far behind and still are behind. We are trying to catch up
with recruiting and trying to implement the offense the way we want it.
"There are a lot of hats we are trying to wear right now and sometimes there is
just not enough time in the day but when I have time to get settled in it has
been nice. Of course I am from Lubbock so it was easier on me then it was some
of the other guys to just get around town, know where to go eat, know where to
go get a haircut and those types of things but yeah it is a good start."
Talk about being from Lubbock and being very familiar with this type of offense after having relationships with Sonny Dykes, Seth Littrell and Bill
Bedenbaugh.
TM: "When my dad (former Texas Tech asssistant Carlos
Mainord) came back six years ago I was able to get in here and get to know those
guys and they are truly some of my best friends now. Dana Holgorsen is one of
them. They all took me in and since they have all left I have gotten the
opportunity to go to Arizona several times and learn how they have taken this to
a different style, if you will.
"I have also visited Dana as well down in Houston. I wasn't far from him at all
(at Lamar) so he kind of let me in when I wanted. I was over there a whole lot
and he kind of gave me a key to it and let me cut up and do some things. So I
saw different ways to run what Texas Tech was doing at different places and how
they kind of put their own twist to it. In the relationships we have built on
that have been great. I talk to those guys all the time, usually once a week, so
yeah they are good friends of mine."
What is it like working with Coach Tuberville? He seems like a guy who
always has a plan.
TM: "Yeah he does, when someone wins 13 games and loses
zero, you don't do that by accident. You are not just lucky and that happens, if
you get lucky you go 11-2 but you do not get lucky and go 13-0. When he walks in
the room our staff obviously pays attention and believes. Some guys walk in and
try to convince you that this works, its my plan, this is how you get it done
and this is how you win. When Coach Tuberville talks it is a different deal, it
is more of this is how you win championships and if we do this we are going to
win championships. It is not as much a convincing matter as it is a fact.
"We are here at Texas Tech and lets be ready to win championships. The way he
says it with the motivation behind it is just so compelling. It is nice to work
for a guy like that, especially as a young coach, to be around someone that you
can learn about confidence from.
"That also carries down to Neal (Brown) as well. Neal has the same confidence
and organization that Tommy does. Neal is very organized in our meetings and is
well prepared and he has a plan for this offense. They are two great, confident
guys to work for."
How familiar were you with Neal Brown before this staff was put together?
TM: "We knew of each other but we didn't have any
friendship built or anything like that. How it came together was the combination
of both he and Coach Tuberville.
"I am from Texas and have recruited Texas, of course Houston, and my knowledge
of the offense was the other side. I came in and had to interview with both of
them on different subjects. With Coach Tuberville it was my knowledge of
recruiting and I had to sell him on that. When I got in with Neal it was the
selling of the offense and it was a good fit. It was a combination of the two,
kind of like the stars lined up for me because like I said, this is home. This
is where I want to be, it is a dream come true and for those stars to line up in
Lubbock it is a great thing."
Your dad (Carlos ainord) knew coach Tuberville for a long time, did you
have a good work relationship with him, or was this the first time you met him?
TM: "Yeah, when they were together in Miami, I was a
little boy at the time. I was around Coach Tuberville at the time but no we have
not had a relationship since. I have always kept up with him. I just got in the
door in front of him and got a chance to talk to him tried to sell myself and it
worked out."
Talk about your meetings so far with the outside receivers
TM: "Talent wise all we have to look at right now is what
you see on tapes from the past season obviously until spring ball when we will
learn exactly what they are capable of. We have had some opportunities to do
off-season with these guys and watch them run around a little bit but until we
get out there and see exactly what they are capable of, I am still kind of in
the new stage. We are trying to build relationships. We are getting around them
and getting to know them.
"I told them on the first day that this is about our family. We are a family now
and I have kids, I have two young kids and they are going to run up and hug your
leg and hug your neck. You are going to be part of my family and I want to be
part of yours. It is just a bunch of relationship building right now, as it is
anything else. Those guys need to believe in me and respect me; so I need to
believe in them and respect them as well.
"So right now it is more of a getting to know each other, feeling each other
out, smiling and laughing and just trying to enjoy each other as we are trying
to implement the new offense."
How are things working with you and new inside receivers Coach Sonny Cumbie?
TM: "I asked Sonny Dykes and Dana about this several years
ago. Since I have been here, we have talked about this again. When you have two
receiver coaches and you play in a bunch of different formations some times you
have to coach each others guys and help them watch both sides of the field.
"Their advice was to get two guys who don't have egos and can work well together
and have a good attitude; I hope and think that Sonny and I are that way. We are
both really laid back and are on the same page. There is not a philosophy in our
room that he thinks more of than I do. At any point and time if I am watching
one side he is watching the other it will be an easy transition. It won't is
difficult for those inside receivers to hear me talk and those are some of the
problems you can run into. So we are aware of that and are conscious of it.
"I couldn't find a better guy to work with than Sonny Cumbie."
Stevenson Staying In Touch
Spring (Texas) Klein Oak tight end
Max Stevenson listed Texas Tech as his leader
earlier this week,
and part of that has to do with the relationship that he's building with the
team's outside receivers coach, Tommy Mainord.
"You know it's great," Stevenson said. "It's almost like he is really looking
out for me because I have been keeping him updated on the trips that I go on, as
far as like family trips and he will shoot me an email and tell me to stay safe
and stuff like that. It's a really good relationship and I feel really
comfortable talking with him."
Stevenson has also spoken with offensive coordinator Neal Brown recently.
"I actually just talked to him the other day," Stevenson said. "He told me I
would come in and you know -- Texas Tech is a gun slinging offense but it's
going to change a little bit because they are going to bring in a tight end. I
would be the first tight end. I would put my hand on the ground some, as well as
line up on the inside like a flex tight end, that is if I'm ready.
"I would have a chance to come in and start as a true freshman and have that
opportunity. But basically what he told me was that I have a 100 percent chance
to do it but that doesn't mean I will. It all depends on if I am ready or not,
so if I am ready then I will play at Texas Tech as a true freshman."
Quick Hits
* Texas Tech 2010 signee
Shawn Corker underwent an MRI on Friday. We don't have any more details at
this point -- calls to Corker went unreturned last night -- but we'll keep you
posted as soon as we hear more.
* Arlington (Texas) Sam Houston offensive lineman
Tony Morales has confirmed that he will be attending Texas Tech's junior day
next Saturday.
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This post was edited on 3/22 11:16 PM by A. Dickens
