Notebook: Tech adds two commits, recruiting storylines to follow

We take a quick look at Tech's two newest football commits, where does Tech's class stack up on a conference and national level, recap some recruiting storylines, and take a look at Big 12 recruiting in this week's notebook.

The offensive staff -- and especially Brandon Jones -- received some good news this past week when Waco Midway offensive guard committed to the Red Raiders.

White had a visit planned to Lubbock and had a good feeling about the Red Raiders even before the visit. When he got to Lubbock, everything clicked, and White committed shortly afterwards.

"The coaches were all cool, they were excited and everything was laid out and planned," White told RRS following his commitment. "I told the coaches two days before and when I got there everything was just in order, it just felt good."

Notes on White and his commitment:

-White was a first team All-District selection as a junior and earned second team All-District honors as a sophomore.

-White was offered by Jones way back in April, which made/makes him one of Jones' top targets. Being able to close on one of your first offers (and top targets) like White definitely lends credence to Jones' recruiting ability.

-White is projected as an inside prospect which gives Tech two guard types -- White and Clayton Franks -- and two tackle prospects -- Troy Bradshaw and Weston Wright.

-Texas Tech's 4 OL commits give them the 5th best OL class in the Big 12 thus far.

Pleasant Grove LB Xavier Benson made a trip to Lubbock this week as well. The visit went well for all involved as Benson announced his commitment to the Red Raider while on his visit.

Much like H. White, Benson was already thinking about committing before the visit and once he stepped foot on the Tech campus, it was an easy decision.

“Just the feeling from the coaches, from the staff, from the whole support team,” Benson told RRS after his commitment. “I loved everything about it and it all just clicked. The community, the college, everything just worked out. The locker rooms, the weight room, the nutrition programs, the gear, the academics, everything was really good, especially how they presented it to me. It all made me excited to commit today.”

Notes on Benson and his commitment:

-Benson was a first team All-District selection on defense and as a "utility" player. He also earned second team All-District honors as a wide receiver.

-Benson recorded 115 tackles and 5 sacks this past season.

-Benson is listed as an outside linebacker and is projected to assume a rush end/OLB role in the Tech defense dependent on his weight gain. His ability to play multiple positions makes him a valuable asset for Gibbs and his defense.

-Benson is Tech's sixth defensive commit and 16th overall commit for the 2018 class.

With 16 commits in the fold, we take a look at some odds and ends for the 2018 class.

Class breakdown by position:

QB - 1

RB - 0

WR - 5

OL - 4

DL - 4

LB - 1

DB - 1

Class ranking - 44th in the country

Avg star ranking - 2.63 (T-66th)

Big 12 class rankings (National rank in parentheses):

1. Texas (7)

2. Oklahoma (8)

3. Oklahoma State (17)

4. Baylor (19)

5. TCU (22)

6. Kansas (31)

7. Texas Tech (44)

8. West Virginia (53)

9. Iowa State (63)

10. Kansas State (84)

Avg star rating: 10th

Total commits: T-2nd

With Fall camp right around the corner and the spotlight of High School football also making it's way back, the recruiting focus starts to tighten up. We learn who the real priorities are and we watch as new prospects bust out during their senior years. What does the upcoming season mean for Tech recruiting and what's left for Tech's 2018 class?

We go over some of the top storylines heading into August...

What about running back? The battle is far from over but Devin Brumfield is thinking long and hard about his commitment following visits to Utah, Missouri, and Colorado State, with the Missouri visit giving him some real pause. Tech held a comfortable lead heading into the summer visits, but the fight for Brumfield has definitely started to heat up. Brumfield is the top dog in the Tech clubhouse and has been for awhile now. If Juluke and staff can close on him, that would be a hard-earned victory, if Brumfield chooses elsewhere, what happens next at RB?

Re-stocking the cupboard. Due to attrition, upcoming graduation, and unfortunate knife fights, Tech is getting very thin at the receiver position; however, the coaches have done a good job of loading up on all types of receiver talent with five commits in the fold and, get this, they are still looking for more. Burnet receiver Sterling Galban could become WR commit No. 6 following his weekend visit. I wouldn't call it quits after that either, as Tech might look for another JUCO receiver and the coaches will be watching the Friday Night Lights closely for any late-bloomer types as well.

Run stopper or pass rusher? Tech is sitting at four defensive line commits for 2018 with the plan early in the process to take five total DL. What type of DL prospect takes up the fifth slot? Will it be a run-stopping inside prospect or a pass-rushing defensive end? Tech has a pass rusher (John Scott), and has three defensive tackles/defensive ends (Valentine, Hutchings, Graves) already committed. Will the coaches make a hard-press to mammoth DT Otito Ogbannia or do they evaluate some more rush end prospects and extend some offers at that position during the season? The coaches could also easily flex things out to add a sixth D-lineman if they see fit.

Handling the numbers game. Tech has four OL commits, one LB commit, and one DB commit. At linebacker, the original plan was to take one LB, but will the coaches re-evaluate and consider adding a thumper in the middle to compliment the rangy Benson? Due to the sheer number of DBs taken in the last two classes, the Tech coaches seem to be going light at the position this year allotting only two slots for the secondary. Mekhi Garner is already in the fold and Tech seems to be the favorite for Hasaan Hypolite. Do they look to add a third option if one presents itself this upcoming season? The same can be said for the offensive line with four commits. Are they still in the market for a fifth OL or are they only saving a slot for a can't miss option? Pay close attention to how Tech handles the "numbers" at these positions.

-West Virginia got on the board with their 12th commit for 2018 in Georgia DB Jayce Rogers. Rogers chose WVU over Iowa and others.

NUMBER 53 RECRUITING CLASS

-Texas added two high-profile commits this weekend gaining commitments from Rivals250 (113) DB Jalen Green and Rivals100 (36) WR Brennan Eagles. Eagles is UT's 2nd Rivals100 WR commit in the past two weeks.

NUMBER 7 RECRUITING CLASS

-Kansas State is on a nice three-day commit streak as they landed three-star DB EJ Thomas, three-star DE Spencer Trussell, and three-star OL Christian Duffie in back-to-back-to-back days.

NUMBER 84 RECRUITING CLASS

-Baylor added commit No. 16 this week in three-star tight end Christoph Henle. Henle becomes the third TE commit for the Bears.

NUMBER 19 RECRUITING CLASS