The Morning Stake: July 31st

Texas Tech Track & Field

 Via MileSplit, Texas Tech has a signee, set to join Texas Tech this fall, Sean Hooper from Keller Fossil Ridge, was part of a record breaking World Junior Record in the 4×400, 3:00.33. Hooper ran his third leg in about 44 seconds:

What are your goals as a freshman at Texas Tech? Which events will you be running?

I want to be a big impact on the track and the 400 for sure. Other than that, the coaches and I haven’t discussed anything else.

Does this experience motivate you, or has it inspired you in any way?

It motivates me, yes, because my next goal is to run the open 400 instead of being on a relay. This has really inspired me to be the best that I can be. You can only run track for so long, so I have to enjoy it while I can.

Texas Tech Football

 A-J Media’s Don Williams has a roster snapshot on Nelson Mbanasor:

Defensive coordinator David Gibbs thinks Mbanasor can contribute for the Red Raiders this year. He has good size and might have a future inside as well as at end.

“Mbanasor is going to play this year,” Gibbs said. “He’s a young kid who just got here, but you can see the physical tools.

“Is he ready to go play? Start and play 12 games? No, but if you can spot play him early and get him acclimated to it by the time you get to the middle of the Big 12, he ought to be ready to go play half a game.”

 Chron’s Jon Poorman writes about Texas Tech commit Kesean Carter, who will run track and play football for Texas Tech:

After considering all of his options, Carter ultimately opted to commit to the Red Raiders. According to him, Texas Tech was the only school that wanted him for both football and track.

“It was pretty exciting,” Carter said of the recruiting process. “When [the coaches] texted and called me, it was a surprise. They were just telling me what they had to offer me. Tech, that’s where it was. I’ve always liked that school.”

Carter is eligible to sign with Tech as early as Dec. 20 after a 72-hour early signing period for college football recruits was approved by the Collegiate Commissioners Association earlier this year.

 Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson writes about how former Red Raider footballer Jakeem Grant worked this offseason:

“It was unbelievable,” Grant said. “That’s all I did. Wake up, go catch punts, eat lunch, go right back at it. I catch so many punts, I got it to second nature that I only don’t even think about catching it. I just react. And that’s exactly how I want it to be. Every day I am out here doing something involving catching punts because I don’t want to make those mistakes I made last year. So I harp on that and make sure I get those things corrected.”

Even after he reached 100 during his daily summer punt fielding exercise, he would continue if there was the slightest misstep. “I don’t stop until I’ve caught enough until I’m comfortable,” he said. “If my stance is wrong or if I bobble it, I won’t leave until everything is correct. I am not moving until everything is perfect.”

 Miscellaneous . . . former Red Raider footballer Reginald Davis III is getting a shot with the Atlanta Falcons . . . according to The News Tribune’s Todd Miles, Washington Husky safety Trevor Walker has decided to transfer to Texas Tech. Walker, 6-1/185, is originally from Arlington and has already played 3 years and took his redshirt in 2015 so I’m guessing that he would be a graduate transfer.

Back To Top