Texas Tech needs to build “competitive depth” and the seven new signees (one high school player, six transfers) help do that. The preferred walk-ons will also contribute to the competitive depth.
Texas Tech will continue adding new players throughout the spring.
Imari Jones caught Tech’s eye a couple of years ago at camp. He was a long guy who ran very well but was also very raw. Since then, he’s “changed his game” and become very productive. Texas Tech recruited Jones quietly.
Malik Dunlap has a safety’s body with cornerback skills.
Matt Keeler has a high ceiling and can play either tackle position.
The film on T.J. Storment is memorable. From the mid-point of last season on Storment was very good at TCU. He’s a good run blocker and is an athletic pass protector. He will play in the NFL.
Spring practice will begin in mid-March and the spring came will take place in mid-April.
Malik Dunlap recently had shoulder surgery and will miss the spring.
Gilbert Ibeneme and Xavier White will also miss spring ball because they will be rehabbing shoulder injuries.
Riko Jeffers had knee surgery and will miss the spring.
Casey Verhulst had lower back surgery and will be limited in spring ball.
Dawson Deaton had minor shoulder surgery and will be limited in spring ball.
Nelson Mbanasor (bicep), J.J. Sparkman (shoulder) and Donovan Smith (shoulder) will be limited early in spring and hopefully will be at full strength by the end of the spring. Smith can throw and has already begun doing so, but will not throw a high number of passes early in the spring.
Some of the recruiting procedures necessitated by Covid will still be used if Covid restrictions ever lapse.
The fact that 10 seniors returned shows they believe the program is close to breaking through.
The potential of roster flux means that you cannot know how big the 2022 recruiting class will be.
Texas Tech will try to add one more player at every position on defense and another offensive lineman or receiver over the coming months.
J. Storment can play both tackle positions, but also has the ability to play guard. Tech may experiment some with playing Storment at guard.
Texas Tech never promises transfers a starting job, but the expectation is that they’ll come in and compete immediately.
Evaluating young and inexperienced quarterbacks is difficult because only one quarterback is the No. 1 guy, and you need to get him lots of reps.
If the coaching staff decides they need to bring in another quarterback, they will.
Tech is starting spring ball later than usual because they wanted to have a longer period of strength and conditioning training, and because they wanted to give Sonny Cumbie and his staff more time to install and teach the new offense.
Texas Tech has lost very few West Texas recruits that they wanted.
Some of the West Texans Tech has signed recently have come in and contributed early.
Transfer recruits have played against high level competition so that makes them something of a more known quantity in comparison to high school recruits.
Transfers often make strong leadership contributions.
