Signee QA: Brandon Thorpe
Advertisement
Highland C.C. defensive lineman Brandon Thorpe is one of several junior
college reinforcements slated to shore up Texas Tech's defensive front this
season. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound prospect chose the Red Raiders over offers from
North Texas, South Florida, UCF and Western Kentucky.
Thorpe is profiled below in the latest installment of our signee Q&A feature which we are running on all of the members of
the Red Raiders' 2014 signing
class.
Thoughts and opinions:
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME?
"Of all time I like Deacon Jones, but as of right now I like J.J. Watt."
WHAT IS THE BEST FOOTBALL TEAM THAT YOU'VE EVER SEEN, IN PERSON OR ON
TELEVISION?
"I've seen the Auburn Tigers play the year they won the national championship."
An up-close and personal look:
YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT FROM YOUR FOOTBALL CAREER?
"This year causing like three forced fumbles."
DID YOU EVER HAVE AN EMBARASSING MOMENT PLAYING FOOTBALL?
"I don't want to say anything embarrassing."
DO YOU HAVE A PREGAME RITUAL?
"I try to pray before every game."
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE THAT YOU HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A DIVISION I
FOOTBALL PLAYER?
"I'd say coming into this season I felt like I really had a good chance at it. I
mean I feel like I had it in high school, but I didn't know if I was gonna be
able to qualify then. That was the only thing that was stopping me."
Thoughts on Texas Tech:
WHAT POSITION WILL YOU BE PLAYING AT TECH?
"The three-technique. Mostly defensive tackle."
ARE YOU EXPECTING TO REDSHIRT YOUR FIRST SEASON ON-CAMPUS?
"No."
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STRENGTH THAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE AT TECH?
"Being a team player."
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT YOU NEED TO WORK IN ORDER TO PLAY AT THE NEXT
LEVEL?
"I'd say overall everything. My technique, playing at that high level."
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WORK OUT AND WHAT IS YOUR ROUTINE?
"I workout everyday."
Personal preferences:
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
"Probably just chill, play video games. Hang out and chill with my friends."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
"Chicken wings."
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
"BT."
HAVE YOU DECIDED ON WHAT YOU WANT TO MAJOR IN AT TECH?
"Childhood development."
HAVE YOU MET ALL OF THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENROLL AT TECH?
"Yeah after this semester I will have."
A look at the recruiting process:
WHAT ONE THING WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION?
"I can't honestly say that there was one single thing. I loved every bit of it.
The coaches, the players, the campus."
IS THERE A TECH COACH THAT YOU FEEL ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO?
"Yeah, coach Scott and coach Wally."
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT DURING THE PROCESS?
"When I committed at the dinner and let the coaches know I was going to Tech. It
was a really good moment for me."
WHAT WAS THE WORST PART ABOUT THE PROCESS?
"There wasn't one."
DID YOU MAKE FRIENDS WITH ANY CURRENT PLAYERS AT TECH OR INCOMING
FRESHMEN DURING THE PROCESS?
"Yeah. I met a few people on my visits. One of my teammates (Marcus Smith) is
going there too."
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR OFFICIAL VISIT TO TECH?
"I mean I don't really have one favorite part. I liked everything to be honest.
The film, going over film with Coach Scott in his office."
WHAT SCHOOL WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN IF YOU HADN'T SIGNED WITH THE RED
RAIDERS?
"I really don't know. That's a hard question too. I don't really know who I
would've signed with. The only place I saw myself was Tech to be honest. I took
visits to West Virginia and North Texas and I had a visit scheduled to UCF, but
I could only see myself at Tech after I made that choice."
The future and goals:
WHAT NUMBER WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEAR AT TECH?
"I mean Im not big on numbers and that stuff. If I had to choose, I'd probably
go with number 90 or 4 or something like that. But really I just see it as the
person with the name on the back that makes the jersey so the number isn't
really a big issue."
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL FOR THIS SEASON?
"To be successful at Tech, always academically and especially athletically
playing football."
WHEN WILL YOU ARRIVE IN LUBBOCK FOR GOOD?
"I will arrive on the report day."
