Picone flying under the radar

Texas Tech was one of the first schools to offer Mandeville (Louisiana) linebacker Johnathan Picone back in February, which resulted in his commitment to the Red Raiders over the summer. Picone has seven other offers to his name right now, but the LB feels like his play on the field warrants many more. As a result, the two-star prospect plays with a chip on his shoulder every time he touches the field.

While Picone would like to receive more interest and recognition, the Red Raider commit still says Tech is 'no doubt, easily my top school.' Picone is still in heavy contact with the Red Raider coaching staff daily and has built up a strong bond with players like Tech true freshman DT Breiden Fehoko, fellow Red Raider LB commit Brayden Stringer, and Tech QB commit Jett Duffey. Now, Picone is ready to get down to Lubbock and show all the other schools in the country that didn't offer him what they were missing.

WHAT'S NEXT?:

Picone spent the majority of his high school career as a defensive end for Mandeville. Due to the fact that he is being recruited at inside linebacker by Texas Tech, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Picone has since been moved to that same inside position at his high school to prepare him for the next level. He has spent the whole season working on perfecting different areas of his game such as playing downhill, getting off blockers, and lining up in a better stance. Picone has racked up 64 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks for his 6-1 Mandeville squad this season. He is still on track to graduate early and enroll in December.

IN HIS WORDS:

"I definitely feel like I am under the radar. It has been my dream to play college football since seventh grade. I am just extremely blessed that Texas Tech gave me the opportunity to really maximize my potential at a Power 5 conference school. Not only that, but just the faith that they have always had in me. I know I am going to make some plays and go out and really shock some people, and the Tech coaches know it too," he said. "I feel like they have known that for a long time now. Just knowing that I have the confidence in myself and the entire coaching staff having faith in me to put me in those clutch situations just really allows me to play lights out when I get to the collegiate level. I really feel like I am being under-recruited, but I really feel like I have a vendetta against a lot of these other schools and they are going to see it when I start smashing people once I get to college."

OUR REACTION:

Picone has been one of the staunchest supporters of everything red and black since he committed to Tech back in the summer, and it says a lot that he would even go so far as changing positions at the high school level to better prepare himself for his time as a Red Raider. Everything is on track with Picone, and the fact that he's graduating in December will help him get an extra leg up as a true freshman next year. - Will McKay