Roundtable: Reviewing Texas Tech's 2017 signing class
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Where did Texas Tech really hit the mark with its 2017 class? Where did it miss?
Chris Level: I think Dakota Allen will prove to be the biggest single addition in Texas Tech's 2017 class but, to me, the Red Raiders were most successful in addressing their needs in the secondary. The program lost Justis Nelson, Paul Banks, Thierry Nguema and Keenan Ward to graduation and, with as much nickel as David Gibbs uses, those numbers needed to be replenished.
I think I'm most curious on where Jaylon Lane ends up but six total defensive backs to go along with Douglas Coleman, Desmon Smith and DaMarcus Fields from last year should give Gibbs plenty of options in 2017.
Aaron Dickens: Texas Tech added an instant-impact linebacker in Dakota Allen and addressed needs on the offensive line and secondary in a big way. I think the Red Raiders also successfully navigated a potentially tricky and unexpected quarterback numbers situation with the addition of McClane Carter.
I find the lack of a clearly-defined pass rusher in this class to be puzzling. While I recognize the tight numbers Texas Tech was dealing with in this class, the team's pass rush was anemic at best in 2016 and the 2017 signing class didn't address that at all.
I also think it's worth acknowledging that the mid-season decision to dramatically divert from a previously established philosophy of avoiding JUCO recruiting is a serious gamble. I understand the logic from the coaching staff's perspective, but the Red Raider football program cannot afford a 2014-like JUCO misfire.
Will McKay: For the most part, despite the boring finish leading up to signing day, the Red Raiders addressed their biggest needs.
They wanted to get bigger and more talented on the offensive line, and they certainly did that with Jack Anderson, Dawson Deaton, Will Farrar, Casey Verhulst and Jacob Hines. That's a group of five that can help you right now, at the very least with depth.
The Red Raiders wanted to put a jolt in the secondary competitively, and they needed to add some real talent to what is a thin unit after all it's attrition over the last year. Mission accomplished, as Tech added both youth and experience, both immediate and future help with a talented group of DBs split evenly between JUCO and high school prospects. Morgan, Lane and Dorsey are possible starters right away, while Davis, Addison and Frye can be special teamers while they learn and grow.
Add Dakota Allen back to the mix with the rest of the LB signees, and Tech did a great job of addressing some real needs.
The one place I am still unsure about is rush end. The Red Raiders didn't have a pass rush at all last year, and they didn't add any immediate help there. Maybe they feel like Kolin Hill, Kaleb Hill, Eli Howard and others are the answer. They better be.
Drew Kohnle: Outside of the secondary -- an area where Tech filled just about every need imaginable -- the linebacking crew that was signed for 2017 could wind up being a very very good one. Texas Tech had an anemic pass defense last year, but just as bad as their ability to defend the pass was their ability to plug holes and stop the run.
Signing Dakota Allen alone would have made this linebacker class a plus, in my opinion. Adding a large run-stopping linebacker in Riko Jeffers and a linebacker who plays with the tenacity and intensity in Tony Jones, really cements this linebacker class.
Mix this class in with the linebackers who received playing time last year and you have a good arsenal of guys with size, experience, age (Jones and Allen being juniors), the ability to plug gaps, cover the flats, and maybe – fingers crossed – blitz effectively.
Linebacker was a big plus for 2017.
On the other hand, defensive line was where Tech missed the mark. No matter how good the coaches feel about numbers – and they feel really good – you could have at least added one more pass rushing DL to the mix without messing with the numbers. The addition of a big-bodied Nelson Mbanasor has already made the coaches happy with moving some guys over to rush end, but I’m still skeptical.
Matt Clare: Where did Texas Tech really hit the mark?
I'm going with the instant impact players that were added on defense - Octavious Morgan, Jaylon Lane and Dakota Allen will immediately improve this defense.
I personally believe the addition of McLane Carter at QB will prove to be invaluable, especially when considering even Pat Mahomes never played a full "injury free" season at QB while at Tech.
Where did the coaching staff miss?
For starters, recruiting was essentially done by Dec. 14, after these JUCO players signed.
If we are to believe the amount of scholarships or "numbers" kept the coaches from pursuing other targets, then okay. I don't entirely buy that and believe the coaches have to be more aggressive on the recruiting trail to some extent.
Regardless of what the coaches say, the gold standard in college football - Alabama - is grayshirting Rivals100 prospects while the Tech coaching staff is holding open spots for grad transfers? Look, I get it, Tech is far far away from being compared to Alabama... but hopefully you see my point.
I think the coaches handled the DL and RB recruiting poorly this season, and the offers match the effort in each position category.
Only taking one WR was a risk and it backfired. Being overly picky at RB was risky and it backfired. Offering very few DL prospects after last spring was risky and the results speak for themselves.
There are a lot of nice pieces in this 2017 class, but the coaches have to find a better balance of talent on offense and defense moving forward.
Kolt Rogers: I believe the biggest hit for the 2017 recruiting class was the secondary. Tech's secondary was not very good last year, to put it nicely. Well, in comes three JUCO transfers who should factor in immediately, as well as three high schoolers who will also get their shot. I believe all three JUCO transfers are immediate upgrades to some of the guys David Gibbs trotted out onto the field last year. In such a pass-happy league, the upgraded secondary should allow the Red Raiders to be more aggressive this year. Which in turn, should help the defense get off the field more.
No surprise to many, the biggest miss this recruiting class is the amount of defensive line players brought in. For the Red Raiders to only take one defensive lineman, and one that is not considered a pass rusher, is a bit head scratching. A Brandon Sharpe or Daniel Howard type pass rusher would have done wonders to help this defense.