Over the past few days, Texas Tech has added two preferred walk-ons, kicker Jackson Smith and deep snapper IV Seacat, plus, linebacker D’Vonta Hinton is ready to compete at Texas Tech.

Photo via Charles Henry @ Flickr.

Football

Hinton Ready. ESPN’s Max Olson has a good Q&A with Texas Tech linebacker D’Vonta Hinton discusses coming into Texas Tech and his expectations.

Do you think people overrate the difficulties you face by playing at 5-foot-10?

DH: Of course, to me, I feel like that. I actually think I have an advantage by being shorter than the usual linebacker. I’m explosive and quick at my position. A lot of linemen can’t really get their hands on me. Once they do, they’ve got to bend way down. By that time, I’m already moved around them.

Tech has changed defensive coordinators again. Do you feel like there will be stability now under David Gibbs?

DH: You know, the crazy thing is, I was on my UH official visit and I meet this guy named David Gibbs. I was in the hotel and thinking, ‘Man, I’d for sure go to Texas Tech if David Gibbs goes to Texas Tech.’ I’d heard UH was getting a new head coach and they were bringing in new coaches, so everyone was up in the air. I just liked that guy and his defense. He’s going to call you out and tell you like it is. He’s not going to sugarcoat. That’s what I like from a coach.

Jackson and Smith Talks Recruiting. So, I guess I found this interesting only because you have one guy that’s all smiles and another guy that’s just wanting some additional offers to make a decision. Wreck’Em 24/7’s Daniel Paulling interviewed Texas Tech DT commit Ivory Jackson and Odessa Permian cornerback Des Smith, who does not have a Texas Tech offer. Jackson is obviously elated and he says that he’s pretty much shutting down his recruiting, while Smith was hoping for a Texas Tech offer originally, but that’s never happened, even after attending one of the camps in Lubbock last week. Smith says that he’s not going to wait around on Texas Tech and so he’s pretty much moving on and I think this is the part that we don’t get to see, which is the idea of these guys know that these classes fill up and there are only so many spots. For a large majority of these players, they don’t really get to sit back and wait, they have to make a decision because if they don’t, then they may miss out on a scholarship to a program where they would like to play. It’s an interesting dynamic.

A Kicker and a Deep Snapper. Texas Tech secured two preferred walk-ons this week as Waco Midway kicker Jackson Smith and Southlake Carroll deep snapper IV Seacat both committed to Texas Tech. Yes, Seacat goes by the name IV as he’s the fourth Russell Seacat in his family. You can watch Seacat throw back a few snaps here:

And here’s Smith kicking some bombs:

Miscellaneous. RaiderPower’s Alyssa Chrisope talks with Texas Tech quarterback commit Jett Duffey about his visit to Texas Tech . . . via College Football Talk the proposed early signing period has been tabled for one year, so that will just have to wait until next year . . . our pal, FOX Sports’ David Ubben has a mailbag and weighs in on Texas Tech’s quarterback battle . . .