The Red Raiders kick off the season against Eastern Washington next Saturday afternoon, and now the Texas Tech coaching staff will go into the season with 20 total 2018 commitments.
Burnet wide receiver Sterling Galban announced his commitment to Texas Tech this evening, and the standout receiver mentioned that he actually committed to the coaching staff a few weeks ago.
"Coach (Eric) Morris and I spoke about my commitment a couple of weeks ago," Galban said. "My family and I talked about it, and we all felt like it was the best opportunity for me. Coach Morris has been recruiting me for a while now, really since the beginning on my high school career.
"He knows how hard that I have worked for this opportunity and said that he is really excited to work with me. My Mom was really big on Dartmouth, and having offers from Ivy League programs did take a lot of thought. But my dream was to play big time football, and I feel like the education from Texas Tech will be great and it gives me the opportunity to play big time football at the same time."
Galban will graduate early from high school this December and plans on enrolling at Texas Tech for the spring semester.
"Texas Tech is really a perfect fit for me as a slot receiver," Galban said. "The offense they run and everything about the program is a fit for me. It is somewhat close to home, and that did give them an advantage. Coach (Emmett) Jones is a really cool coach and he just told me this offense is a perfect fit for me. Coach (Kliff) Kingsbury and I have a great relationship too. I really have a great relationship with all of the coaches and they are all very straight forward with me.
"I will graduate from high school in December, then I plan on enrolling early at Tech and joining the team for spring practice. After talking with the coaches, I feel like a few guys they have at wide receiver could leave and I can get there in the spring to possibly earn some early playing time. I return punts and kick offs now, and that is something Coach Morris and the coaches see me doing for the Tech special teams as well."
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver went from a relatively unknown prospect earlier in the year to competing with some of the best prospects in Texas throughout the off-season.
"Getting the opportunity to compete at Rivals Camp, The Opening Regional and with Fast Houston (7-on-7) has helped me really grow in my game," Galban said. "I was competing against some of the best defensive backs in the state, guys like Jalen Green and Leon O'Neil, who are some of the best defensive backs in the nation. It helped me to focus on the little things as a wide receiver and I'm taking all of that into my senior season."
Galban recently spent the weekend in Lubbock with some of the other Texas Tech 2018 commitments and already has plans to visit for a few games this season.
"Yes, I have kept in touch with a few guys like Cameron Valentine and Mekhi Garner, plus I'm in a big group message with the entire class," Galban said. "We have talked every day, and they have all been telling me to commit already. I know a lot of us were talking about coming back to Lubbock for the Arizona State game in a few weeks.
"I'm going to try and catch a few games for sure, it's only four and a half hours away. I want to attend a couple of games, the Arizona State game and the TCU game, maybe a few others."
A one-time Iowa State commitment, does Galban now consider himself done with the recruiting process after his commitment to Texas Tech?
"For now, yes I'm finished," Galban said. "My parents want me to consider taking a few official visits, but that is something I will have to discuss with the Tech coaches before making any decisions. I know there is a lot of speculation about Coach Kingsbury and the upcoming season, but I really believe in the coaches and think they will have a successful season."
Galban and his teammates begin the season next Thursday evening (8/31) against Reagan, and the newest Texas Tech commitment is eager to get things started.
"I mean, just playing on Friday nights with my brothers, that is what it is all about," Galban said. "It is my senior season and it is going to be really fun. My little brother, Chandler, is our starting quarterback this season as a sophomore. We had a scrimmage last night and played two live quarters, he threw for over 200 yards."
Currently rated a 5.6 three-star prospect, Galban finished with 942 yards and 11 touchdowns - earning District 13-4A Division I All-District First Team Offense honors this past season.
Galban is also a standout athlete for the Burnet varsity track and field team, finishing third overall in the Class 4A Boys 100m state finals with a time of 10.69 seconds.
He chose the Red Raiders over other offers from Illinois, Iowa State, TCU, Cornell, Dartmouth and others.
