Notebook: Red Raiders extend offers, gearing up for big weekend in Frisco

Multiple defensive line prospects pick up offers, a grad transfer OL recaps upcoming visit, and a look at the impact of the Frisco spring game.

The Texas Tech staff threw hat in the ring last week for big-time Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn. Coburn has multiple offers on the table from some of the top programs in the country but personally sought out the Tech coaches due to his interest in the school. A day after contact, Coburn picked up an offer.

“I actually really like Texas Tech,” Coburn said in an interview with RRS. “I had reached out to them because I had some interest in them. I really wanted to see if they were interested in me.”

“I contacted them first. I had hit up coach Jamison, and I asked him how he was doing, and I wanted him to know that I was interested, and I didn’t want them to think that they didn’t have a chance.”

Coburn went onto say that he will be considering all of his offers equally and with a Tech offer now in hand, he will be looking into them further, too.

With the "see in person" rule now extending to assistant coaches and not just defensive coordinator David Gibbs, new DL coach Terrance Jamison took the opportunity to extend an offer to a prospect he was familiar with at Florida Atlantic. Despite holding 20+ offers already, Redmond is excited about the Tech offer.

“I’m considering it heavily because that’s a very prestigious school athletically and I would say it’s a really huge honor and it’s a huge offer," Redmond told RRS in an interview. "It’s definitely one of my best ones.”

The Texas Tech coaches have earmarked a few scholarships to back fill for the 2017 class. The coaches have a couple spots for graduate O-linemen as well as saving three spots for defensive transfers/late addition. The three main targets for Tech at this point on defense is a pass rusher, a cornerback, and whatever else presents itself.

The coaches made their motion towards adding their late addition pass rusher this past week when they extended an offer to Tyler J.C. defensive end Michael Epley. Epley spent two years at SMU (with one of those years being a redshirt) before transferring to Tyler J.C. after not meshing with the new SMU coaching staff.

In nine games this past season, Epley recorded 83 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, with two forced fumbles, an interception, and a blocked kick. He recently took an official visit to TCU this past weekend and is expected to take a visit to Lubbock soon, too. Epley was also roommates with current Tech QB McLane Carter at Tyler this past year.

Texas Tech has hosted a few unofficial defensive line visitors over the past two weeks with the most recent being Arizona DT Kai Golden. Golden and his dad made the 10-hour trip from Arizona to Lubbock to check things out. Golden had a couple other opportunities to visit other schools but chose the Red Raiders.

“I’ve always been a fan of Texas Tech. In fact, I really like their engineering program. I was just weighing out which schools were my favorite and my dad told me I could make a trip. At the end of the day, I figured Tech would be the best visit for me in the grand scheme of things. I was considering going to Washington, UCLA, San Diego State, or TCU but I wanted to see Tech.”

Golden has been building a relationship with Terrance Jamison over the past few weeks and was happy to finally get to Lubbock. The visit worked out well, too as he really enjoyed the town.

“I actually really loved Lubbock. I thought it was a really nice town. They actually have a lot to do there around the campus. It isn’t a big city but there is still a lot to do. One of the things that really stood out to me was how close everything was. Their practice facility, the building they watch film in, the new training facility, the football stadium, and even the dorms are all really close together. I liked that.”

During our conversation with Golden he also mentioned that the Tech coaches told him that they will be taking five total defensive tackles in the 2018 class. Golden, who is expected to receive an offer when the coaches come and visit, is an early enrollee which the coaches are putting extra emphasis on.

Anyways, Tech has tried this strategy in the past (of loading up on certain positions) with the 2016 class, ultimately ending up with seven signees (had eight commits at one point) with four of those signees being defensive tackles and one of those signees (Housotn Miller) eventually moving inside as well.

The real emphasis here isn't necessarily the numbers, but even with the large class, the Red Raiders didn't add their first commit on the DL until late May (Mych Thomas) with the rest of their commits being added in June-August. So while the lack of offers/commits may be alarming, this strategy has worked in the past but it took some time.

Texas Tech needs some depth on the offensive line, and not only depth but in-game experience as well. When Brandon Jones was announced as the new OL coach, he brought with him the potential to remedy both of Tech's needs in one swift motion. His former LT at Cal, Aaron Cochran, announced his decision to transfer soon after Jones was not retained by Cal and hired by Tech.

Cochran's top three schools include Auburn, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech with Texas Tech getting the last visit on April 8. Cochran has a strong bond with coach Jones which could help in their push to land the 6-foot-8 left tackle.

“I can attribute all of my success on the field to coach Jones," Cochran said in an interview with RRS. "The way he coached me, the way he pushed me harder than anyone else. He expects more out of me. He is arguably the best coach I have ever had athletically. He put my game at another level. That is definitely one of the reasons why I am so interested. I wouldn’t go if he wasn’t such a good coach. I can attribute my success to him.”

Two other grad transfer OL Wilson Bell (FSU) and Andy Dodd (LSU) could also be in town that weekend of the 8th...

Greene will also be attending the spring game at The Star in Frisco

The spring game in Frisco is shaping up to be a huge recruiting event for recruits as there will be more than 50 recruits in attendance this upcoming Saturday. RRS has confirmed almost 50 names so far (with more being added daily). Here is a quick breakdown of the recruits who we have confirmed so far:

2017 signees:

LB Riko Jeffers

DB John Davis

2018 positions:

RB - 1

WR - 14 (2 commits)

OL - 9

DL - 7

LB - 3

DB - 8

Multiple 4-star recruits will also be in attendance.

-Oklahoma added commits 5 and 6 this past week garnering commits from IMG running back TJ Pledger (No. 35 in country) and Tulsa Union defensive tackle Jordan Kelley (No. 35 DT).