A little over a month ago Texas Tech's 2016 recruiting class was sitting at only 5 recruits committed to play football, fast forward until now and the Red Raiders are cruising into mid-summer with 18 commits. Last week over a four day span Texas Tech had 4 new recruits verbally commit to the Red Raiders. This week I will go over these past 4 guys and see what they bring to the table.
DaMarcus Fields | 6'0", 180 lbs | Cornerback
Taylor High School (Taylor, TX)
24/7: 81 | Rivals: 2-Star | Scout: 2-Star
DaMarcus Fields committed to Texas Tech last Friday and became commit #15 for the Red Raiders. Fields held offers from both Texas State and Texas Tech. While Fields doesn't have a ton of offers, that doesn't mean anything. The Tech coaching staff obviously likes what this guy has talent wise. Fields has a nice frame for a cornerback and he plays a physical style of football. He isn't afraid to get his hands on the receiver and redirect them. Taylor High School is a smaller high school and a lot of the receivers he covers are either the same size as him or smaller. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because once he gets to campus he'll be able to get plenty of practice in against bigger receivers. Either way, DaMarcus Fields will make a nice addition to the Tech secondary.
Johnathan Picone | 6'1", 215 lbs | Linebacker
Mandeville High School (Mandeville, LA)
24/7: 84 | Rivals: 2-Star | Scout: 3-Star
The Red Raiders received a commitment from Jonathan Picone this past Saturday. Kevin Curtis was one of the main coaches recruiting him and also Zac Spavital. As we know by now, Kevin Curtis is doing a great job in our neighbor state of Louisiana. I like Picone a lot, he's explosive off of the ball. In his film below he lines up a lot at DE in a 3-4 scheme and can even slide inside in a 4-3 front. In the 3-4 scheme he can beat the tackle off the edge or hit him with a finesse move. When he's at DT he can explode off the ball and drive the guard back or simply run right between the blockers. It's projected that Picone will play outside linebacker at Tech and I think that fits him great. His speed off the edge will match up perfectly.
Houston Miller | 6'3", 230 lbs | Defensive End
Keller High School (Keller, TX)
24/7: 84 | Rivals: 2-Star | Scout: 3-Star
Houston Miller also committed to the Red Raiders this past Saturday, raising the total number of commits to 17. Miller had a handful of offers including Duke, Iowa, Colorado, California, and Boston College, but decided Texas Tech was the place for him. Miller has great instinct and play recognition. In his film below you'll see him shedding blocks and making a lot of tackles in the backfield. He doesn't bite on read option plays either, he lets the play develop in front of him and doesn't over-pursue. It's great seeing another defensive line commit and Miller should make an impact in the near future.
Noah Jones | 6'5", 250 lbs | Defensive End
Southmoore High School (Moore, OK)
24/7: 84 | Rivals: 3-Star | Scout: 3-Star
Oklahoma native Noah Jones gave Texas Tech their 18th commitment for the 2016 class on Monday. Jones is from Moore, Oklahoma and held several different offers including in-state Tulsa. Jones has a great frame at 6'5", 250 pounds. Since Jones is only entering his senior year he still could possibly grow an inch or so and could put on a few pounds, but you never know how those things might happen. At his size Jones can extend his arms and get his hands on the blocker before the blocker can get to him. This provides him with leverage and can steer the blocker towards the play then push him to the side. Jones can also fight through blocks and eventually get free in the backfield. Right now Jones is projected to play DE but if he does put on some more pounds it wouldn't surprise me if he slides inside to DT. I'm excited to see what ends up happening once he gets to Tech.
While Texas Tech added 4 new scholarship commits they also gained 2 preferred walk-ons. Midway High School (Waco, TX) Kicker Jackson Smith and Carroll High School (Southlake, TX) Long Snapper Russell "IV" Seacat accepted preferred walk-on roles with the Red Raiders. Both Smith and Seacat could receive scholarships down the road but as of now they will hold walk-on status. It's great seeing Tech's 2016 class at 18 commits halfway through June, this says a lot about the coaching staff and the connection they can make with the recruits. I'm excited to see what's next for this 2016 class.
2016 Football Commits
Da'Leon Ward: Running Back, Skyline High School (Dallas, TX)
Donte Coleman: Tight End, West Mequite High School (Mesquite, TX)
Emoree Giddens: Offensive Line, Coronado High School (Lubbock, TX)
Gio Pancotti: Offensive Line, Episcopal High School (Bellaire, TX)
Neiman Armstrong: Cornerback, DeSoto High School (DeSoto, TX)
Antoine Cox-Wesley: Wide Receiver, Steele High School (Cibolo, TX)
Jett Duffey: Dual-Threat Quarterback, Lake Ridge High School (Mansfield, TX)
Bryson Denley: Athlete (RB, WR), Steele High School (Cibolo, TX)
DeQuan Bowman: Wide Receiver, Hutchinson CC (Hutchinson, KS)
Derrick Willies: Wide Receiver, Trinity Valley CC (Athens, TX)
Mychealon Thomas: Defensive Tackle, Butler CC (El Dorado, KS)
Brayden Stringer: Linebacker, Cypress Ranch High School (Cypress, TX)
Ivory Jackson: Defensive Tackle, Amarillo High School (Amarillo, TX)
T.J. Vasher: Wide Receiver, Rider High School (Wichita Falls, TX)
DaMarcus Fields: Cornerback, Taylor High School (Taylor, TX)
Johnathan Picone: Linebacker, Mandeville High School (Mandeville, LA)
Houston Miller: Defensive End, Keller High School (Keller, TX)
Noah Jones: Defensive End, Southmoore High School (Moore, OK)