JUCO OL offer hopes to visit Lubbock
With seemingly only one more open spot for offensive line recruiting for the 2017 class, offensive line coach Lee Hays is being very selective with his offers and targets going forward. With all of the interior offensive line positions filled, Hays’ lone criteria at the moment is a big-bodied tackle prospect and that’s where six-foot-seven offensive tackle Elliot Baker comes into play. Baker, a JUCO prospect out of City College of San Francisco in California, was offered by Hays and the Red Raiders back on March 2 and still keeps in contact with Coach Hays. Baker is also looking to set up a visit to Lubbock.
WHAT'S NEXT?:
Baker has seen his recruiting really take off as he is up to 15 offers currently with many more expected to come. Texas Tech joins schools such as Mississippi State, Georgia, Missouri, Arizona State, and others that have offered the big tackle prospect. Baker also lists UCLA, Auburn, and LSU as schools that he has been hearing from. As far as visits go, Baker has a scheduled visit to Georgia on April 15 for their spring game and is in talks with Missouri about setting up a visit as well. A visit to Lubbock is also something that could definitely happen as he has been watching Tech games since his childhood.
IN HIS WORDS:
On receiving the Tech offer:
“Coach Hays called me up one day and said he really liked my film and the type of player that I am. He things I could do big things in their offense. He was telling me about Le’Raven Clark, and how he is going through the draft process and Coach Hays thinks I could be in that situation too in a couple of years. He talked about my tape a lot and told me how he liked my length, my size and how quick I am.”
“I really excited to pick up the offer. I mean its Texas Tech, a Big 12 school in a big time conference. I’ve been watching them on TV when I was little. I’ve never been to Texas, but I know how great football is in Texas. I’m excited to go check out the school and see the campus. Hopefully sometime around the fall I can go catch a game and get a feel for everything.”
On growing up watching Tech and Lubbock:
“I remember watching Michael Crabtree and their big win over Texas. That is a very vivid memory of mine growing up of Texas Tech. I even tweeted out the picture of “the catch” when I picked up the offer. That is Texas football. I don’t know too much about Lubbock, but I used to have a teammate who took a visit to Lubbock and he really loved it and had some good things to say.”
Where Tech ranks among other offers:
“I’d say Tech is definitely up there, they are a power-five school. I haven’t had the chance to rank the schools yet or anything like that but they are definitely not lacking in any aspect that I would want out of a future college. I could definitely see them in my top five whenever I get to narrowing things down.”
OUR REACTION:
It is obvious what Coach Hays is looking for in an offensive line prospect at the moment and Baker fits the bill with his size and quickness. Hays is being very selective at the moment, so Baker picking up an offer from the Red Raiders is very telling about how Hays views the California tackle. Baker is slowly picking up high-profile offers but Tech could definitely stay in the thick of things if they keep in contact.