Texas Tech Tuesday Morning Notes - New Commitment Edition

by Seth C on Dec 11, 2007 6:41 AM CST

Double-T Nation News:

Once again, a pretty quiet day.

I should be on a day-on, day-off with the Texas Tech v. Virginia previews so expect a running back preview tomorrow, an offensive line preview on Friday and the receivers next week.

Texas Tech Football:

Sporting News' Tom Dienhart writes that UCLA has to spend the money and make a commitment to the program, which would mean spending money on Coach Leach's buyout and a competitive salary to boot. Recall that yesterday afternoon, DMN's Brandon George reported that Coach Leach would be on the road recruiting today, which is contradictory to what Dienhart said earlier in the week, unless of course Leach intends to talk with UCLA by telephone, which would seem unlikely to have the first interview by telephone, not to mention, Gerald Myers confirmed that UCLA has not so much as contacted Texas Tech to talk with Leach.

I'm not sure who UCLA is going to hire, but this story gets more and more interesting as we continue forward.

Although I don't follow recruiting very close, LAJ's Don Williams reports that Blinn College Emmanuel Stephens defensive end has now committed to Texas Tech. These are Stephens' Scout and Rivals pages.

Here's Williams on the new Texas Tech commitment:

Stephens, an all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference choice who had nine sacks this season, said he's made an oral commitment to the Red Raiders. Stephens, who has a wife and young son, is finishing up this semester at the community college in Brenham and plans to enter Tech at mid-term.

I'm glad to have Stephens aboard, but how does a guy who is 6-3/225 and runs a 4.5 in the 40 not get recruited by more schools? That's some serious speed, and if Stephens is being recruited at defensive end, that's fine, but wouldn't his size and speed be somewhat appealing at linebacker?

Welcome aboard Emmanuel, and git your guns up.

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Stevens

I read the article about Emmanuel Stevens, and he sounds like one of those JC players who flew under the radar. On his scout page it says that he had 12 sacks his freshman year, and 8.5 sacks his sophomore year. If he has 4.55 speed like his profile says, he will be by far our fastest pass rusher! Can you imagine the havoc he could cause on a 3rd and long?? We are going to be so stacked at DE next year. It almost seems as though some good players will not see the field much because there is going to be so much talent at the position next season. But that is a good thing.

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Dec 11, 2007 10:42 AM CST reply actions

DT & LB

That is where we need the most help. I would love for us to go find a good 3-4star MLB and some 300+ pound DTs. That is what we really need to stuff the run. I agree this guy would be a freak against a 3rd and long. With his speed I would like to see him at outside linebacker to take away mismatches against slot recievers.

by ST04 on Dec 11, 2007 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

Stevens

Been watching this commit closely... This is a guy I have actually seen play several times. Fast. Blinn is known for their ability to take those players who couldn't get into the major Texas Universities, and produce powerhouse athletes. Not speaking directly of Stevens, but Academic Eligibility is always a question for these guys.

Graham Class 05'

by jugraham on Dec 11, 2007 10:59 AM CST reply actions

In this case...

...I assume his young son had something to do with the JC route. If he's as fast in person as he looks in his Rivals videos then I'm officially excited about this kid.

Also I'm not sure how under the radar he flew considering his current offer sheet includes Cal, A&M, Tech, KSU, Ole Miss, etc.

He absolutely looks fast enough to play a Ware type OLB position. It'll be interesting to see what Ruff has in mind with all these DE's on roster.

"...I'd rather have two quarterbacks sitting on the bench eating ice and bitching than five." -Mike Leach-

by hubcityraider on Dec 12, 2007 1:27 AM CST up reply actions

Weekend assignment for Seth C

or someone else, take a close look at the current personnel to run the 3-4. There were a number of pieces last year and now this year, we seem to be doing the same thing.

Go Raiders . . .

by Seth C on Dec 12, 2007 6:26 AM CST up reply actions

3-4?

With the way we've recruited DE's and LB/DE this year, it almost seems like we're stacking up to run a New England-like 3-4. Still don't have a dominating nose, though, and that's a major drawback.

They're either going to move him to LB or put some weight on him, i guarantee it. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play next year, but I also wouldn't put it past the coaches to redshirt him in order to train him for a new position.

by kayakyakr on Dec 11, 2007 1:49 PM CST reply actions

I thought that too

I had watched the recruiting since the spring of 06 and thought Leach would move to a 3-4 too, but this year was the same 4-3 as always. That probably has a lot to do with Lyle and the change at DC, so I'm going to wait and see what direction we go in 08.

Why we are taking in so many DEs is a little surprising because I think all of us know we are weakest at DT. I think Whitlock will be better next year and Agoucha should have an impact. After that, we really don't have much depth at DT. If Leach thinks we can recruit DEs and then move them to DT, we will be in for another long season because the guys he's recruiting are not big enough to take on offensive linemen and stop the run.

I'm starting to like Ruffin more. Not that I didn't like him before, but I just didn't know much about the man. He is saying all the right things about the type of defense he wants to run. I am a big fan of the simple, aggressive, attacking type of defense and that is what Ruffin has been talking about. He will win me over completely if he does two things:

Keep the Sunday night practice as an all hitting party!
On the Thursday scrimmage, make the 30-40 plays they run, running plays, so the defense can get lots of reps defending the run.

I think the recruiting is there, I think Ruffin should implement his defense and keep the tempo of practice high. If these things are done, Tech should do very well next year.

by CoachT on Dec 11, 2007 5:06 PM CST reply actions