Recruiting update: lots of action in the 2019 class

September is football time, in many different ways. While the Red Raiders are going to play the first of 11 games in a row, the recruiters are working hard to get in touch with high school prospects. Home games are a great occasion to invite these players in Lubbock, in order to visit facilities, the stadium, and have a first meeting with coaches.

One of the most touching moments of the Week 1 game against Eastern Washington was the introduction of legendary running back and 1996 Doak Walker award winner Byron Hanspard into the Red Raiders Hall of Fame. The occasion was also good for his sons, Byron and Bryon, to visit the brand new facilities Texas Tech opened last offseason.

The elder brother, Byron, comes from DeSoto, and is a 2018 class cornerback who’s currently committed to Arkansas. Ranked as a three-star recruit, he talked with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and defensive backs coach Karl Scott, with whom he’s been in contact with for over a year, but he confirmed his commitment to the Razorbacks. By the way, Hanspard II confirmed that the visit was important in order to reconsider the Texas Tech offer. At the moment he’s already received 18 scholarship offers.

The younger brother, Bryon, is a 2019 class wide receiver, and he’s currently undecided, as he already drew interest from Texas Tech, Mississippi State, and UConn. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound high school junior spent a lot of time with wide receivers coach Emmett Jones, he declared that he doesn’t want to commit early but Texas Tech surely took a step forward into the kid’s consideration.

The last player to visit Lubbock in Week 1 was 2019 running back Garrison Johnson. Listed at 5-foot-11, 220-pound, Johnson is the prototype of the big powerful runner that Red Raiders’ running back coach Jabbar Juluke loves so much and of which Desmond Nisby is the latest example. Johnson is highly recruited all over the country, as he landed offers from Nebraska and SMU, and many other D-1 schools have shown interest in him.

In addition, the Red Raiders offered a scholarship to 2019 quarterback Jacob Zeno, from San Antonio. Zeno is the No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the nation according to Rivals, and he’s the fourth 2019 quarterback to receive an offer from Texas Tech, alongside dual threats Michael Johnson Jr. and Grant Tisdale, and pro style Grant Gunnell, who’s currently committed to Texas A&M.

Many other players are expected to come to Lubbock for the game against Arizona State. We’ll talk about them next week, along with any updates that may come in the next seven days.