With the early signings for the 2017-2018 finished, I wanted to give the Red Raider Track and Field faithful a look at the new talent that we will be seeing THIS year for Tech - starting in just 2 months as the indoor year kicks off in January.
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IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE MAKERS
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IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE MAKERS
- Norman Grimes, Jr - from Canyon HS - won the 5A 300H, the Pan Am Jr 400H and the World Youth 400H in 2015. Last year, was injured at his district meet, but still ranked #2 in the U.S. in the 300H and #40 in the U.S. in the 110H. An instant candidate for making the national finals in the 400H
- Justin Hall - from Blue Springs, MO - at the MO Class 5 state meet, he won the TJ and was 4th in the LJ - ranked #9 in the U.S. in the TJ and #37 in the LJ
- Trevin Chambers - from DeSoto - after winning the Dist 8-6A 100 and 200, he was injured and did not run at regional or state. Missing those meets kept him off the radar, even though he was ranked #15 in the U.S. in the 200 and #42 in the 100, allowing Tech to pick him up late in the recruiting process.
- Duke Kicinski - from Justin Northwest and transfer from WTAM - after finishing 2nd in the LSC discus last year, he came back to throw a PR of 189+ in winning the D-II national meet. Moves to Tech as a contender to win the Big 12.
- Ardran Carr - from Arlington Bowie - 6th in the 6A 300H last year, which was slightly disappointing, but he still ranked #22 in the U.S. in the 300H. Coach Kittley has gotten him with a 46+ split on the 4x400 (Grimes has also split a 46 running for the US at the Pan Am Jr championship)
- Chance Stephenson, from Whitehouse - 3rd in the 5A 400 and ranked #41 in the U.S. This kid only dropped under 49 flat one time before last year, then dropped all the way to a 47 last year and ran under 49 several times. Appears to have his best years ahead of him.
- Drew McMichael, from Ft. Myers Christian HS and transfer from Auburn - a 17-3 HS pole vaulter (ranked #19 in the U.S. in 2015) who got no coaching at Auburn last year. I have seen this kid on video and he is definitely a 18 foot vaulter, particularly training alongside Tech's supersoph Brandon Bray.
- Dorian Williams - from Las Vegas and a transfer from NC State - 14th ACC 110H last year, but a solid HS hurdler who might benefit from a change of scenery. His PR easily makes the Big 12 finals.
- Ivan Santiago-Bravo - from Spain and a transfer from Cowley Community Col - 7th in the JC javelin, but his PR makes the finals in the Big 12 in an event that has been weak in the Big 2 for a few years
- Truvaurnie Proctor - from The Bronx and transfer from Coppin State - 9th in the MEAC 400H last year -- he would get little or no good coaching at Coppin.
- Sebastian Hartless - from New Deal - at the 2A state meet, he won the LJ and was 2nd in the 200. I don't know if he will concentrate on the sprints or the jumps, but Tech has had some success with really small-town kids who blossom once they concentrate on track only.
- Steven Duran - from Albuquerque St Pius X - the NM 5A state 800 champ (in NM, like 44 other states in the U.S., private schools compete in the same classes as public schools). This kid has run a 1:53 800 in HS, definitely has some potential.
- Braden Darrow - from Abilene Wylie - 6th 4A SP last year - may be the only true shot putter on the team in 2017. Like most throwers, he might benefit most from a redshirt year.
- Eduardo Trevizo, from FW Castleberry, where as a junior he was 4th in the 1600 and 6th in the 3200 in the 4A state meet. He was one of only 2 true freshmen who broke into Tech's top 7 in XC and got to run at conference and regional meets.
- Nathan Gift, from Katy Cinco Ranch - won the Dist 19-6A 3200 last year and was the other true freshman to break into the top 7 for Tech in XC
- OTHER NEWCOMERS - Hunter Carlton, transfer from Tarleton, where he was 3rd in the LSC PV; Connor Garvey, distance runner from Dallas Jesuit; Reagan Mead, distance runner from Cleburne; Cody Miller, distance runner from Smithson Valley; Matt Munoz, distance runner from EP Eastwood; Cutter Oglesby, distance runner from Frisco Wakeland; Shea Whatley, 4th Region I-6A 3200 for Southlake Carroll.
- Marcus Franklin - TR from Ole Miss - could really help in the hammer throw outdoors after training all last year at Tech
- Hunter Hopkins - TR from Stephen F Austin - 4th in the SLC javelin in 2015, he had to sit out last year after SFA would not release him. He did train in Lubbock all last year.
- Alec Saucedo - TR from Texas State - runnerup in the Sun Belt outdoors in 2015, he has run a 1:50 in the 800. Tx State would not release him, so he trained with Tech's stud half-milers last year. Of course, a 1:50 may only make him the 3rd or 4th fastest half-miler on the team!
- Darien Tennon - had to sit out the outdoor season for Tech due to injury last spring, but was 3rd in the 400H and 5th in the 110H in 2015 and will add to what is now an absolutely loaded Tech hurdle squad
- Hagen Stoute - redshirted as a freshman last year after winning the 3A pole vault in 2014 for Wall HS
- It looks like Tech will pick up the services of Divine Oduduru, from Nigeria, at midterm. This kid is a flat-out stud. A semifinalist at the Rio Olympics in the 200, the 20 year old has run a 20.34 legal in the 200 and a 20.25 with a slightly-too-high wind at Eugene last summer. If Tech gets him into the country this spring, Tech's sprint relay will automatically become a factor.
- Still not sure if the South African javelin kid, Werner Bouwer, is coming to Tech at midterm or if he will join the Red Raiders next fall. He is another kid who should pay immediate dividends.
