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Hatten's Recruitment Has 'Opened Up'
White is not the only TCU commit that Texas Tech is heavily pursuing. We
spoke with Daingerfield (Texas) offensive lineman
Shayvion Hatten late this week who indicated that he's still being heavily
pursued by the Red Raiders and others.
"It's opened up," he said of his recruitment. "I am getting more and more looks
from FSU, (Texas) A&M and Texas Tech."
Hatten maintained to us that he still considers himself committed to the Horned
Frogs, but he does plan to take a few unofficial visits this summer to check out
his options.
"I am not attending any camps, but I am taking some visits," Hatten said. "I am
going to try to get up to Texas Tech."
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound prospect is actually being recruited by some programs --
including Texas A&M -- for the defensive side of the ball. Hatten was named
second-team All-State as a junior after recording 32 pancake blocks and 18
knockdowns. He also holds offers from Houston, Missouri, Purdue and Tulsa.
Everyone Even For Maggitt
West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer defensive end
Curt Maggitt is another Sunshine State prospect to keep an eye on. The
6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect doesn't know much about Texas Tech yet, but hopes
to learn more. Maggitt is being recruited by Red Raider defensive back coach
Travaris Robinson who has already made an impression on the Rivals250 to Watch
standout.
"He seems like a really cool guy who is really down to earth," Maggitt said. "I
like him. He is from Florida and he keeps in contact with me."
Maggitt hopes to take a few unofficial visits this summer and is leaning towards
making his decision sometime during the season.
"I am just going to make the rounds at some point this summer," he said.
"Everything is pretty even right now. I should know more after this summer."
If you're a Texas Tech fan, at this point you're hoping he A) sticks to his
current timetable and B) decides to take an official visit to the South Plains.
Louisiana Athlete Hoping For Texas Tech Offer
We
communicated with Greensburg (La.) St. Helena athlete
Ryan Byrd earlier this week and during our conversation the 6-foot-1,
180-pound prospect expressed his interest in Texas Tech.
"I like them because of their style of offense and the numbers they put up," he
said. "They go four- and five-wide every play. I think Coach (Tommy) Tuberville
will build something nice at Texas Tech. Plus, it's in Texas, which is not too
far, and they produced Michael Crabtree."
In all, he holds offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Minnesota, Ole Miss,
Mississippi State, Tulsa and Western Kentucky.
"I'm looking for a place that fits me best in academics and athletics," he said.
"I'd like to play receiver but I will play whatever to help my team. Distance is
not a factor, but I kind of don't want to play in snow. The schools that I like
run spread offenses where I can use my skills and on defense where I can do the
same."
Byrd will be taking his second unofficial visit to LSU this weekend.
"After junior day, Coach (Ron) Cooper came by last week and said that they like
my athleticism and my size and that they would want me in the secondary or as an
athlete. As far as an offer, they said they like me enough to get one but want
me to come on a visit this Saturday."
If the Tigers do end up offering this weekend, it sounds like it would be game
over for Byrd.
"If the right school offers and I feel comfortable after I visit, then yeah
(quick commitment)," he said, "but as of right now I'm just going to take my
time and my visits."
Dynamic Duo or Thunder & Lightning
Yesterday, Pflugerville (Texas) running back
Kenny Williams likened the duo of
him and Odessa (Texas) running back
Bradley Marquez as a "dynamic duo." We spoke
with Marquez recently who shared those sentiments but described them
differently.
"I've seen some highlights of his (Kenny Williams). He's a great running back.
He's one of the top," Marquez said. "For both of us to be going to the same
school, I feel like we can compliment each other like thunder and lightning. We
can help each other as teammates and as athletes getting to the next level, and
that's the ultimate goal."
Raiders Standing Out For Davis
With two standout Division I prospects roaming its hallways, Tampa (Fla.)
Jefferson has seen a lot of foot traffic during the spring evaluation period.
Coaches from across the country have flocked in to see wide receiver
Andre Davis and linebacker
Ramik Wilson.
"There's not much going on really," Davis said. "Just a bunch of different
colleges have been coming by the school." |
Florida, Florida State and Texas Tech are just a few of the programs that have
evaluated one or both of the prospects in person. The Red Raiders sent outside
receivers coach Tommy Mainord to scout Davis and while they didn't talk, the
6-foot-1, 180-pound receiver certainly knew he was there.
"I got to see Coach Mainord," he said. "We didn't get to speak, though. I talk
to him a lot, him and Coach (Chad) Scott from Texas Tech."
Davis does not have any definitive plans for this summer, but he does have a few
destinations in mind when he does start taking visits.
"Not as of right now," Davis said of his visit plans, "but the schools I'm
trying to visit for sure are Texas Tech; I know I'm going to Georgia, Florida
State, Miami, and Alabama."
As for what schools are currently standing out to the standout receiver?
"Texas Tech, Florida State and Miami," Davis said. "Those are the ones that are
standing out right now."
Davis noted there are a few things about the Red Raiders that have him thinking
highly about the program.
"Well they actually throw the ball a lot," he said, "I like that. And coaching
wise, their coaches are real down to earth, real nice guys."
Quick Hits
What does Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson linebacker
Ramik Wilson know about Texas Tech?
"I know a lot," he said. "I know about Michael Crabtree and all that. They have
my interest. I like their uniforms and I love the conference and their
coaching."
* Spring (Texas) Klein Oak defensive lineman
Jon Lewis recently added an offer from TCU.
* The Woodlands (Texas) running back
Daniel Lasco was scheduled to announce his college decision -- out of Miami
(Fla.), TCU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech -- today but those plans have since been
pushed back indefinitely.
* Texas Tech signee
Scott Smith flew from Hawaii to Arizona earlier this week and will either be
in Lubbock today or Monday.
* Despite his commitment to Texas Tech, several schools have been by to watch
Pflugerville (Texas) running back
Kenny Williams during the spring evaluation period: Illinois, Louisville,
Kansas State and Minnesota.
* Rivals.com will begin releasing prospect rankings for the 2011 class on
Tuesday. We don't know where the Red Raiders' commits will be in the rankings,
but can tell you that there will be 11 five-star prospects in this first round
of rankings -- five offensive players, five defensive players and one athlete.
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This post was edited on 6/2 9:11 AM by A. Dickens