I learned in the comments first and then learned officially that Washington State center Dishon Jackson had some issues that maybe Texas Tech wasn’t comfortable with and Jackson recommitted to Charlotte. Good for Dishon and I’m always sort of glad that things work out before the season starts so there’s no hard feelings. I’ll update the chart soon.
If you have not heard 2024 quarterback commitment Will Hammond talk then this is your opportunity who seems pretty level-headed in his approach.
Athlon Sports’ Steve Lassan writes about why Texas Tech is a top sleeper for the Big 12 title:
Schedule is Relatively Favorable
Yes, Texas Tech has road treks to West Virginia, Baylor, BYU, Kansas, and Texas. However, the Red Raiders get TCU, UCF, and Kansas State in Lubbock for what could be three important matchups in the race to get to the conference title game. A huge non-conference showdown against Oregon also takes place in Lubbock, and McGuire’s team won’t have to play Oklahoma or Oklahoma State.
Rivals’ Cole Patterson has some experts answer questions about OU, Texas, and Texas Tech. I’m highlighting the expert that’s NOT Ben Golan, which may give you a reason to click on over:
2. Landing Micah Hudson would prove that Texas Tech is a real threat in the state for top skill talent moving forward.
Patterson’s take: FACT. I’m not sure Texas Tech will be in the race for a player like Micah Hudson each cycle, but I do believe that Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders will pull their fair share of talent within the state. McGuire has deep connections all over Texas and his staff has really hit it off with high school coaches and prospects. Adding to that, offensive coordinator Zach Kittley runs a fun, high-flying scheme that likes to spread the ball around. I would bet that Tech sees an uptick in their recruiting, especially assuming that they are able to seal the deal with Hudson and send a shockwave throughout the state in the process.
The Athletic’s Sam Kahn ($) has a mailbag and I’m giving the question and first part of his answer:
Joey McGuire and his staff are doing a hell of a job in recruiting. Understanding that Texas Tech is not going to challenge for the No. 1 spot year after year, is it realistic for Tech to perennially be among the top 20-25 with an occasional top-10 recruiting class? — Robert P.
After seeing what Tech did in the 2023 class and accounting for where the Red Raiders are in 2024 (ranked 22nd by 247Sports as of Sunday and seemingly the favorite for five-star Micah Hudson), I’m convinced that as long as McGuire is there, Texas Tech can recruit at a top 25-30 level consistently. I’m a believer in the Red Raiders’ measurable-heavy recruiting strategy after seeing that blueprint work under Matt Rhule at Baylor.
Texas Tech landed a commitment from Pearland defensive end Eddy Smith (6-5/250) and Red Raider Sports’ Ben Golan talked to Smith about his commitment:
“Really I was gonna wait, but I told coach (James) Lockhart, the other outside linebackers coach and he was like ‘c’mon, just go tell them, go tell them, you can make it verbal and then you can announce it later on’. I was like okay, and I went in there, I told them, and then everybody in the room jumped up and started cheering. Coach McGuire hugged me, coach Ah You and coach Lockhart both hugged me. Coach Blanchard picked me up. It was just a lot of energy in the room.”
And Texas Tech has a couple of commits from Glenda Dawson in Pearland and Red Raider Sports’ Golan talks to to the defensive coordinator about their development and how Joey McGuire and C.J. Ah You recruit players.