From Inside the Red Raiders
As 247Sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons noted in today’s Top247 rankings update, we took a deep dive on the defensive side of the ball in the past several weeks to fuel today’s rankings updates. Here’s how that affected Texas Tech’s three defensive pledges in the 2021 class:
Solomon Wright, DT, Vian (Okla.) — Wright rocketed in the latest update from an 86 rating to an 89, making him a top 10 overall prospect in the state of Oklahoma’s very strong 2021 cycle. With more staffers checking out Wright, the decision came to bump his rating significantly because of his explosive playmaking ability, outstanding production, and overall dominance at the small-school level.
If you play small-school ball — especially if you’re undersized from a projection perspective — you need to dominate, and the 6-foot, 270-pound Wright certainly does. He recorded 124 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and one fumble returned for a touchdown. He is now ranked in the top 25 defensive tackles nationally in the 2021 class on the 247Sports rankings.ADVERTISING
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E’Maurion Banks, SDE/DT, Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider — Banks slid slightly from an 88 to an 87 on the 247Sports rankings. More eyeballs on his junior film resulted in the small drop as the general consensus was that we were a bit high on him at his previous grade of 88. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound possesses a terrific frame, but the motor can run more consistently hot and his quick-twitch athleticism can improve.
Still, Banks’ production from the 2019 season was encouraging — 95 tackles, 20 for loss, 14 sacks, one forced fumble, three recoveries — and his size/frame could potentially make him position flexible in college. Banks remains a state top 100 prospect on the 247Sports rankings.
Charles Esters, SDE, Cedar Hill (Texas) — Esters held steady at the 85 rating that he already earned prior to the latest rankings update. Esters is a big-framed, long-levered, strong-in-the-phone-booth defensive end who could also potentially slide inside to tackle in a four-man front, depending on his physical development as he bulks in college. Improving his explosiveness will be key for Esters to maximize his potential, but he’s a very solid player and his 85 grade on 247Sports reflects that.
