So 2016 huh? Yep, Texas Tech is already working on the 2016 class and the first member of that class is 2016 Katy free safety Collin Wilder, who has had interest in Texas Tech for
| DEFENSIVE BACK | |
|---|---|
| COLLIN WILDER | FREE SAFETY |
|
HT/WT: 5-11/180 FORTY: 4.54 HIGH SCHOOL: Katy (Katy, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout  | ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports N/RCUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.9092 VTM PROFILE DATE: June 16, 2025 OFFERS | Texas Tech |
|
THE PLAYER SPEAKS | I was hoping that we'd have a bit more this morning, but just a short quote via Scout:
"With Texas Tech, I absolutely have a close connection with them. I keep in touch with the coaches and they will be a front runner until the end," Wilder said a few weeks back. "I feel pretty good about the Red Raider program."
The thing that I did note in that article is that Wilder had 115 tackles, 9 pass break-ups and 5 interceptions as a sophomore, which is pretty impressive. There's no doubt that Wilder is a high caliber player.
Wanted to update the post from this morning, where the LAJ spoke with Wilder's coach, who had nothing but good things to say about Wilder:
"He's a good football player, a really intelligent kid," Katy coach Gary Joseph said Monday. "In the 33 years I've been here, he's one of only two freshmen we've had that have played varsity football as a freshman.
"The biggest thing is probably his work ethic and his intelligence. He's a very active kid back there. He understands concepts very well and does a great job of leading."
SCOUTING REPORT | Just terrific speed and terrific reaction to the ball. It's always nice to be really pleasantly surprised with the video and that's the case here. the funny thing is that Wilder is just a sophomore in those highlights, which is really impressive. His speed is just fine and his break on the ball is excellent. Wilder's run support is really advanced, although there were some plays where he got sucked into the line and had to make a play 15 yards down the field. That's about experience more than anything else. Still, Wilder's recognition is pretty impressive and his willingness and ability to sneak into the offensive backfield to make a play is impressive.
The odd thing for me is that Wilder has just one offer, from Texas Tech, and even on 2016 kids, that's uncommon. Then, couple that with the idea that he's only rated by Scout and that's it, but he's already rated as a 4-star player. I'd imagine that Wilder will be properly rated here soon and he does to be a 3-star player as a sophomore, so I could certainly see a 4-star by the time it's all said and done.
