Recruiting update: talent infusion for Coach Beard

The football coaching staff gave themselves a fighting chance to hold this recruiting class together and keep their jobs. With the win over Baylor, the Red Raiders are now just one win away from bowl eligibility, and if that happens, I believe Kliff Kingsbury and company will see another year in the 806. However, there is still work to be done as now Tech must find a way to win this week against a top 25 Texas Christian University team (I know they want to be called TCU but I oppose anyone giving themselves their own nickname), or on the road a week later at Texas. Although I would not give us great odds to make this happen, I think this team has given themselves a chance to see a bowl game.

Unfortunately, the big football recruiting news from this week is the 3-star defensive line prospect John Graves has de-committed from the Red Raiders. He is from Lancaster High School and has offers from Memphis, New Mexico State, and Colorado State. Although I am not sure this will be a devastating blow to the recruiting class, it does not help with the momentum that the program is trying to build heading into the early signing period in December.

The biggest recruiting news from this past week was made on the hardwood. Coach Beard signed two highly regarded prospects.

DeShawn Corprew is a 6’5” guard/forward who was a top 100 recruit coming out of High School who did not qualify academically and made a detour to South Plains College where he redshirted last season. He is a physical player with a great build and many programs were interested in his services. His coach at South Plains College, Steve Green, believes he has the ability to play all five positions on the court. While I don’t think he will see much time at center, I do believe this type of athlete is what coach Beard is looking for in order to play more uptempo and positionless basketball. Here are a few highlights from 2 years ago when he was still in High School.

Corprew was joined by Kyler Edwards on signing day. Edwards is a 6’4” guard out of Findlay Prep in Nevada. He is a quick combo guard who averaged 22 points a game, 6 rebounds, and 3 assist last year at Arlington Bowie. Edwards said, “On my visit at Texas Tech a vision was shared. A vision I believe I’m excited to be a big part of. Coach Beard and the staff work well together to push their guys (past) their comfort zone and into greatness.”

Both of these guys will be great assets to the Red Raider basketball team moving forward, and the start of what looks to be a special recruiting class for Coach Beard and company. With five seniors on this year’s team, Beard will have plenty of work to do to replace them.