Recruiting the High Seas: Hello to Russell Polk, Goodbye to Troy Baker

by Seth C on May 16, 2009 6:55 AM CDT in Texas Tech Recruiting

Yesterday, in the second hour of TechTalk, RRS.com's Aaron Dickens reported that Texas Tech recieved a commitment from Dallas Carter (TX) S, Russell Polk. I haven't been able to find very much on Polk and scouting services have discrepancies on his 40 time (ranging from RRS.com's 4.50 to ESPN's 4.69). Since RRS.com's update appears to be the most updated, I'll go with theirs on Polk's profile.

Russell Polk
Position: S
Rivals Profile
Scout Profile
ESPN Profile 40 Grade
Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 200 lbs
Forty: 4.50 secs
High School: Carter (Dallas, TX)

Russell, welcome to Texas Tech and git your guns up!

Waco OT Troy Baker has switched his commitment from Texas Tech to stay close to home at Baylor. I'm imagining that Baker wanted to stay closer to home, which is fine, best luck to him. I'm not terribly worried about the offensive line, especially considering that the Red Raiders had four quality linemen commit in the 2009 class (Kyle Clark, Matt Goetz, Joel Gray and LaAdrian Waddle). Admittedly, Leach & Co. need to sign some linemen, but this isn't a huge loss and it's better that Baker switch now rather than in February of 2010, so I applaud Baker for letting both sides know relatively early in the process.

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Griffin-Big-12 Blog

I just checked the ESPN Big-12 blog as well as their NEW way-to-early rankings. The overall feeling here is that no one but Tech fans, coaches and team give the Red Raiders a chance to finish higher than #6 in conference, much less be a top-25 contender. Frankly, I just don’t think any of their writer really looked at Tech seriously during the Spring. They blatantly overlook any problems involving the rest of the top teams in the Big-12 while underscoring those of Tech. I really hope Cap’n Leach uses all of this as a part of his prep speeches to the team as they start Fall workouts and start the season. There are questions that need answering in the games, but with the talent level present on this team, I feel there will be NO dropoff from last year. If we Tech fans cannot be fired up about the coming football season, we would have to have spent the winter holed up inn a cave on Mars, or something. I say get ready and support this team as it can and should be very capable of matching last year’s success. Maybe more. GO TECH!

TTpilk

by TTpilk645 on May 17, 2009 4:51 PM CDT reply actions

Lots more football stuff starting in the next week or two.

I saw T.Griffin’s rankings and I think he’s pretty fair. Granted, like you, I don’t think there’s going to be the drop-off that people are expecting, but that’s why preseason predictions aren’t worth very much.

Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation

by Seth C on May 17, 2009 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I (unfortunately) disagree. I think the learning curve on the OLine will be rough, and playing IN Austin (especially earlier in the season) will be incredibly difficult. We might pull something on OU at home since that’s toward the end and they also lost some linemen, but that’ll just flip our games from last year (assuming we lose the UT game in Austin) and if OU is strong in it’s other games that still leaves us (in many minds) 3rd in the south. With the possibility of Nebraska making a move this year and OSU taking their shot, a 4-5th seems believable (if somewhat disappointing), I do think putting us below Kansas is a bit of a stretch, but considering their finish vs. ours and our losses, I can understand the choice.

I want to see us do well and I’m hopeful, but I’m more optimistic about 2010 and a POSSIBLE Big 12 championship THAT year with some seasoning this year, rather than an expectation of big success immediately.

by HeeroTX on May 18, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions