Recruiting Reset

The final month leading into signing day can be - and often is - full of drama. From last second decommits or surprise last second signees on NSD, you never fully know what might happen. However, college programs around the country understand what gaps they need to fill and how they sit with their current commits as they hit the home stretch for the cycle.

So, let's take some time to reset the deck and take a look at where the Red Raiders sit as we ready to close out the 2016 class.

Texas Tech is taking one of their biggest signing classes in school history for 2016, as they took a smaller class a year ago and had some big scholarship numbers for the class. That includes a gigantic defensive line class with eight signees that should be the base for the future of Tech's front seven under David Gibbs. The rest of the class is as evenly spread as you'll find in recruiting, with five receivers, four offensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs, a tailback, and a quarterback.

Four of those players have already signed as early enrollees: Mansfield quarterback Jett Duffey, Mandeville (Louisiana) linebacker John Picone, and two JUCO wide receivers in DeQuan Bowman and Derrick Willies.

That leaves 22 other commits that will ink with Tech on National Signing Day, including the likes of Stratford linebacker Jordyn Brooks, Texarkana (Arkansas) defensive tackle Nick McCann, Wichita Falls outside receiver TJ Vasher, Lafayette (Louisiana) Acadiana safety Kevin Moore, Keller defensive end Houston Miller, and others.

The Red Raiders have done a great job of solidifying the pledges of many commits despite a number of both offensive and defensive staff changes, and things seem to be holding very steady with the class as a whole as we approach signing day.

While the Red Raiders do have room to add roughly 30 or 31 prospects with the 2016 class if they want to, they'll likely only take 28 or 29 players for the cycle in order to leave room to add potential transfers in the spring and summer. That leaves 2 to 3 spots to fill in the coming month, and Tech could go in a number of directions to fill needs or take the "best available" players left on their board. So, let's take a look at some of those potential prospects.

Houston (Texas) Aldine Davis defensive end Keith Sullivan

Sullivan is a prospect the Red Raider became very interested in during the spring, extending an offer and staying in touch over the summer and fall. He's a long, athletic prospect with a great six-foot-seven frame, and he could play either end or tackle for Tech.

He's still undecided and has always talked about Tech and Boise State as being two top schools, so we'll find out where he ends up here shortly.

Southlake (Texas) Carroll wide receiver Zach Farrar

Farrar had an impressive senior season, one that garnered him quite a bit of attention on the recruiting trail, even after impressing at the Rivals Camp Series event in DFW last spring.

Tech and the receiver have seemingly gravitated back towards one another now that the 2015 football season is in the books, which will culminate in Farrar visiting Lubbock in the coming weeks before signing day.

The Red Raiders are still trying to find big pass catching targets at outside receiver for the future, and they look to be in great position with Farrar.

Dallas (Texas) Wilmer-Hutchins safety DeMarkus Acy

Tech was one of the finalists for Acy early on in the fall, but after taking his visit out to Missouri in early October, he pledged himself to the Tigers. However, Tech would like to add another safety to the class to finish things out, and they appear to still be pursuing the Dallas native.

It likely won't be an easy task to sway Acy, but former DFW high school coach and current Tech assistant Emmett Jones will try to pull the DB away from Columbia and out to Lubbock.

Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Imhotep Inst. Charter School OT Yasir Durant

The Red Raiders looked to be done with their offensive line class after picking up a commitment from Bailey Smith, but it looks like they might find one more spot for a player such as Durant.

The tackle recently placed the Red Raiders in his top three along with Rutgers and San Diego State, and he's currently set to visit both San Diego and Lubbock. Tech O-line coach Lee Hays looks to be in good position with the Philly native here down the stretch, who would be yet another piece towards building quality depth in the trenches.

Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff defensive end Marvin Terry

Much like Acy, the Red Raiders made the top three for Terry a month ago, but he decided to commit to Missouri and Barry Odom. But, Tech has had close ties with the Dallas native throughout the 2016 recruiting process, and they've always been in the picture.

The Red Raiders very well could try to make a late push for Terry, despite pledging to Mizzou less than a month ago.

Spring (Texas) cornerback Ka'Darian Smith

Texas Tech held a number of satellite camps over the summer throughout the state of Texas, including one at Spring High School in Houston. A prospect that really caught the attention of the coaching staff then was Smith, who impressed enough to earn an offer at the end of the camp.

He's been committed to Houston for quite some time now, and the Cougars have a ton of recruiting momentum coming off their Peach Bowl win over Florida State.

However, Smith has expressed interest in the Red Raiders within the last few months, and DC David Gibbs would certainly take a corner like the Spring product if he wanted to make a change.