Recruiting on the South Plains: 2015 WR Carlos Strickland Player Profile

One of the things that I never really understood when Neal Brown was here was his affinity for big, but a bit slower wide receivers. I completely bought into this year thinking that the smaller, faster wide receivers would be a really terrific change of pace for Texas Tech. This hasn't worked out really at all for Texas Tech and it's clear that with Strickland and Tyron Johnson, guys that they have been out in front of for a long time, identified this issue pretty early and Strickland is the first piece, I think, to fall for a new and improved wide receiving corps.

And I don't know if a lot of you would agree with this, but this is as big of a commitment as Tyron Johnson, and I know that we've all been sweating Johnson's commitment a bit.  I don't know if this will get as much play nationally, but I do think that this is as big of a deal for Texas Tech and if Johnson were to commit, this would be darn near ground-breaking.

RECEIVER
CARLOS STRICKLAND	WIDE RECEIVER
HT/WT: 6-4/195 FORTY: 4.54 HIGH SCHOOL: Skyline (Dallas, TX) VIDEO: Hudl | YouTube RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.9 | Scout | ESPN 82 | 24/7 Sports 90 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9367 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 29, 2014 OFFERS: Texas Tech, TCU, California, UCLA, Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, North Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas UNLV, Wisconsin

THE PLAYER SPEAKS: I couldn't find anything from today, but I did find this Scout article right after Strickland took visits to Texas Tech and California:

"It was pretty fun. I got to see the offense and see how I would fit in, rally," Strickland said. "I got to see the program as a whole. (Both visits) were good overall.

"They throw the ball a lot. Both programs. That's what I like. That's a receiver's dream, to be in a system that throws a lot. That's perfect for me. That puts me in the best situation."

SCOUTING REPORT: This is exactly what the doctor ordered for Texas Tech football and as I wrote above, it's terrific that this staff sees an issue and goes out to fix it. First of all, one of the things that doesn't get written about enough is how Skyline is a football factory. And I mean that in a good way. This is a high school program that consistently puts out high quality Division I prospects every year. They are terrific coaches and terrific at developing players.

At 6'4", Strickland already has the size of a college wide receiver and although I doubt the 4.5 speed, he's plenty fast. this solves a couple of problems for Texas Tech, which is that this should help in the redzone and it should help, whoever is the quarterback, to simply be a better quarterback. It's a heck of a lot easier to hit a 6'4" or 6'5" wide receiver rather than a 5'6" receiver (no offense to Jakeem Grant).

Strickland is tall and lanky and could probably fill out a bit more, but it is the fact that he's already pretty coordinated and he's making all sorts of leaping catches in the endzone. This is usually a talent that takes time to develop, but Strickland is already making circus catches

A couple of more notes, which is that Strickland is a top 150 player, and as MikeTTU has already pointed out, this is the reason why Texas Tech's class is shaping up like it is. There's a lot of star power to this group. A ton. I know there's been a ton of hand wringing about the current state of things, but a guy like Strickland can immediately turn things around for Texas Tech and would have the ability to play quickly if he can run the correct routes. The good thing is that I think there's a terrific relationship between the folks at Skyline and Texas Tech (the Skyline folks have good relationships with just about everyone) and they do run a version of the spread. The other thing that should help out Strickland and some early playing time is that you cannot teach a 6'5" frame and there are things he can do that other receivers simply cannot do, especially near the goal line.

Carlos, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!

2015 Texas Tech Football Commits

QUARTERBACKS
JARRETT STIDHAM	QUARTERBACK
HT/WT: 6-3/190 FORTY: 4.57-4.66 HIGH SCHOOL: Stephenville (Stephenville, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 6.0 | Scout | ESPN 86 | 24/7 Sports 98 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9881 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 7, 2014 OFFERS: Texas Tech, Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arizona St. Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Ohio St., Oklahoma St., Ole Miss, Penn St., TCU, Texas, Vanderbilt, Washington St.
RUNNING BACKS
COREY DAUPHINE	RUNNING BACK
HT/WT: 6-1/180 FORTY: 4.45 HIGH SCHOOL: Memorial (Port Arthur, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.5 | Scout | ESPN 77 | 24/7 Sports 84 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8605 VTM PROFILE DATE: February 3, 2014 OFFERS: Houston, Lamar, Texas Tech and Washington St.
RECEIVERS
CARLOS STRICKLAND	WIDE RECEIVER
HT/WT: 6-4/195 FORTY: 4.54 HIGH SCHOOL: Skyline (Dallas, TX) VIDEO: Hudl | YouTube RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.9 | Scout | ESPN 82 | 24/7 Sports 90 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9367 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 29, 2014 OFFERS: Texas Tech, TCU, California, UCLA, Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, North Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas UNLV, Wisconsin
OFFENSIVE LINE
LIO LAFAELE	GUARD
HT/WT: 6-4/310 FORTY: N/A JUCO: Riverside C.C. (Corona, CA) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.7 | Scout | ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports 87 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8826 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 9, 2014 OFFERS: Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Washington St.
TRACE ELLISON	TACKLE
HT/WT: 6-6/285 FORTY: N/A HIGH SCHOOL: Centennial (Frisco, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.5 | Scout | ESPN 77 | 24/7 Sports 83 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8382 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 31, 2014 OFFERS: Arkansas St., Illinois, Texas Tech
CONNER DYER	GUARD/TACKLE
HT/WT: 6-5/275 FORTY: 5.20 HIGH SCHOOL: Horn (Mesquite, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.9 | Scout | ESPN 80 | 24/7 Sports 90 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9071 VTM PROFILE DATE: July 30, 2014 OFFERS: Arizona St., Arkansas, Baylor, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Navy, Nebraska, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Ole Miss, Oregon, SMU, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Toledo, UCLA Virginia
MADISON AKAMNONU	OFFENSIVE TACKLE
HT/WT: 6-5/275 FORTY: 5.20 HIGH SCHOOL: Bowie (Arlington, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.5 | Scout | ESPN 81 | 24/7 Sports 93 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8952 VTM PROFILE DATE: August 10, 2014 OFFERS: Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas St., Missouri, TCU, Arizona St., Arkansas St., Colorado St., Connecticut, Houston, Mississippi St., North Texas, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Texas St., Wake Forest
DEFENSIVE LINE
DEFENSIVE TACKLE	BREIDEN FEHOKO
HT/WT: 6-3/290 FORTY: N/A HIGH SCHOOL: Farrington (Honolulu, HI) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.9 | Scout | ESPN 85 | 24/7 Sports 97 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9736 VTM PROFILE DATE: April 14th, 2014 OFFERS: Alabama, Arizona St., BYU, California, Clemson, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon St., Pittsburgh, San Diego St., Stanford, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Utah, Utah St., Vanderbilt, Washington St., Weber St., Wisconsin
BRODERICK WASHINGTON	DEFENSIVE TACKLE
HT/WT: 6-3/285 FORTY: N/A HIGH SCHOOL: Longview (Longview, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout | ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8093 VTM PROFILE DATE: September 23, 2014 OFFERS: Arkansas State, Houston, Lamar, Louisiana-Layfayette, New Mexico, North Texas, Texas-San Antonio
COURTNEY WALLACE, JR.	DEFENSIVE TACKLE
HT/WT: 6-2/309 FORTY: N/A HIGH SCHOOL: Neville (Monroe, LA) VIDEO: Hudl RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.4 | Scout | ESPN 75 | 24/7 Sports 83 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8206 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 13, 2014 OFFERS: Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese State, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, Southern University and Texas Tech
LINEBACKERS
D'VONTA HINTON	INSIDE LINEBACKER
HT/WT: 5-10/201 FORTY: 4.56 HIGH SCHOOL: Texas City (Texas City, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.5 | Scout | ESPN 77 | 24/7 Sports 82 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8389 VTM PROFILE DATE: April 13, 2014 OFFERS: Louisiana Tech, Maryland, Utah, Texas Tech
ATHLETE
JONATHAN GILES	ATHLETE
HT/WT: 5-11/175 FORTY: 4.55 HIGH SCHOOL: Elkins (Missouri City, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals 5.5 | Scout | ESPN 77 | 24/7 Sports 84 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8272 VTM PROFILE DATE: May 10, 2014 OFFERS: Colorado, Fresno St., Houston, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Texas, SMU and Texas Tech

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