Recruiting on the South Plains: Broderick Washington Player Profile

You hear that?

That's the sound of the coaching staff figuring it out about recruiting high school defensive tackles. Last week or some time ago, I responded to a comment that recruiting good quality high school defensive tackles is incredibly difficult and that it has been quite some time since Texas Tech recruited a high number of defensive linemen and would continuously rely on JUCO defensive linemen for almost a decade.

That's not an indictment on anyone or any coach, the big schools gobble up those quality defensive linemen and schools like Texas Tech (and I'm really talking about top 25 programs) are left to try to figure something out and they end up having to develop defensive linemen.  Taking flyers on prospects and making them work out.

For the future success of Texas Tech, and I think the coaching staff knows this, they must recruit quality defensive linemen and they have to be willing to take some misses along the way. That's really the only and best way to do this. Breiden Fehoko is not the norm. I hope that it is some day, but for now, guys like Broderick Washington are incredibly important to this program.

DEFENSIVE LINE
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

THE PLAYER SPEAKS: The funny thing is that Washington was quite literally offered today, like at 11:30 this morning and then he committed just half an hour later. Yeah, it was that quick.

Washington spoke in the summer when he attended Texas Tech's East Texas camp about what he wanted to do at the camp and the coaching staff:

"Today was great," Washington said. "I enjoyed showing everyone that Longview’s got something coming this year. We’ve got a good group on the way." Washington said he would be hearing more from Tech. "They said I did good and they would keep in touch," he said. "I’m just going to keep working and get better."

And according to Washington's coach, Washington is equipped to handle the defensive side of the ball:

"There's a lot of people that have been looking at him on both sides of the ball," King said. "He carries the weight needed to play defensive tackle at the next level and he moves extremely well. He's 295 pounds, very well put together -- good feet, leverage and has got a motor."

The offer is the eighth FBS offer overall for Washington, with Texas Tech joining Houston, North Texas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State, UT San Antonio, New Mexico and Lousiana Tech after Washington's services.

Though he spends Friday nights on the Lobos' offensive front, Washington has seen time in practice at defensive line, providing the same physicality as he does on the reverse side of the ball.

"It's a big one for Broderick," King said. "He's a full qualifier -- scored well enough in testing and paired with his size and attributes, he's equipped to go play Big 12 football. It's a big lick for him and hopefully he'll continue to get more and more looks."

Update: The original article linked above, but I'm linking it again here, has some quotes from Washington, who talked about why he choose Texas Tech:

"It was this past summer when they first came here to hold a camp when that relationship started," Washington said. "I went back to their camp in June and it just got even better.

"It's the coaches. They really stood out to me and have reached out to me more than anyone else."

SCOUTING REPORT: Yeah, I sort of love Washington's film. Washington just plays tackle for Longview, but he's expected to play defensive tackle for Texas Tech. The best thing about this is that he's already got legitimate defensive tackle size. There's no adding on to Washington, or at least not that much. He's also really strong, and generally speaking East Texas football isn't pushover football, as Washington is playing some pretty nice competition.

Washington plays with some real attitude on offense, manhandling opponents at the left tackle spot and generally being pretty dominating. He's got terrific footwork and he certainly is finishing each and every play. Also, I love his pad level and his leverage. It's not just strength, but it's better technique and that usually means a coachable player.

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

2015 Texas Tech Football Commits

If you need any indication that Kingsbury really changing the attitude of things, check out those offensive linemen and defensive linemen.

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.
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: ###, 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
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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