Texas Tech Red Raiders: Recruiting a Tommy Tuberville Defense

The good football teams I have witnessed typically consist of three to four primary playmakers on each side of the ball surrounded by role players.

Now, the quality of the three or four stars definitely has an impact on the upside of your win column, but the quality of the role players determines the degree of sucktitude at your weak spot. 

We know who the three or four linchpin guys are heading into this season on defense, and we also know exactly where our weak spot is since the final whistle blew for the Alamo Bowl: Short on 4-3 DEs and filling a pretty big void for one of our best role players at DT in Richard Jones.    

Part of the issue with operating a 4-3 scheme in a spread league is that DE becomes the most important position to recruit.  These also happen to be the hardest guys to find for the college level.

We weren’t just in trouble at the position, we were in dire straits.  

We’ve made a few little tweaks in our football program since the Alamo Bowl and one of them happens to be switching to a 3-4 under the new coaching staff we hired.  Not a bad idea, as you gain some flexibility in the variety of perimeter and DE players you can recruit.  We signed nine bodies for the front three positions and OLB, so we at least filled the huge void of options for scholarship bodies. 

I’ll carve out the JUCO guys at the end, as they will most likely all see action this season.  Every kid in every class is theoretically a project, but I’ll take a stab at the high school guys I think will be most likely to develop into one of those three or four playmakers on our defense.

Most Likely Playmakers

DE/OLB Dartwan Bush, 6′2″, 250 lbs., Brazoswood, TX

He looks like a college football player running into a high school kid on film.  Dudes look kind of scared of him and that’s always a good sign.

He’ll eventually be asked to eat his way into a 3-4 end and settle down at 265-270.  Bush looks like we may need him as a pass rushing option this year at his current weight.

I think he has the raw explosiveness and natural strength to play early at Tech.  He’s got much better film than McKinner Dixon had when he signed with the program, and at 250 pounds, Bush already outweighs our options on campus for a hybrid OLB position in a 3-4. 

DB Russell Polk, 5′11″, 200 lbs., Dallas, TX (Carter)

You see the standard lame duck centerfield picks that you do in most high school DB film, but I also see a lot of other skills that translate to today’s successful Big 12 DB.

Like run support and open field tackling.

I haven’t seen many of these Carter kids show up to Tech and not be an upgrade to our roster in athleticism.  Polk won’t be scared when he gets here, and given the district he plays in, will face the least adjustment to the speed increase.  I think he’ll run better than our current starters and film suggests he’s the farthest along mentally.

We need more turnovers this season at the safety position, and if Polk can do that, he’ll play quickly.

DB Tre’Vante Porter, 6′0″, 185 lbs., Midwest City, OK

Porter is the safest pick to be a stud of any recruit we signed on defense.

I don’t think he’s as physical as Polk yet, who faces more speed every day in practice against the Carter JV than what Porter has seen in game scenarios.  I think Polk runs fast enough to play in the Big 12.  I know Porter does, and for this reason, he’s got a really good shot at winning playing time this fall.

Quick for his size, so he could be in play for the open CB position, if he’s an option to keep Malcolm Williams disinterested in a football game. 

Most Likely Role Players (Redshirts)

DT Coby Coleman, 6′3″, 290 lbs., Frankston, TX

Extremely athletic for his size.  I would imagine, if he doesn’t flame out after a semester of getting pounded by an elite OL in practice, that he has the potential to jump into the first group.

We don’t historically get a shot at interior DL with his kind of athletic ability.  If the work ethic and motor are in place, then he should mold into a fine option for us.

To my knowledge, Coleman hasn’t fully qualified, but things allegedly look good for us on that front.

DL Mike Jones, 6′3″, 255 lbs., Sugar Land, TX (Kempner)

He’s got a highlight clip against Jake Matthews, which is a good sign.  Jones possesses a decent first step for an interior guy and uses his hands well.  I suspect we’ll see him at DE in the new scheme.

Not an elite athlete, but with a redshirt season and 25 pounds, I think his future lies as a one-gap run stuffer at end.  I’m thinking Rajon Henley for comparative purposes, but lacking Richard Jones level quickness.

OLB Cueball Hubert, 6′3, 230 lbs., Aldine, TX (Eisenhower)

There seems to be a lot of conflicting reports on his size, but you can never have too many dudes named Cueball on your defense, in my opinion; it sets the tone before the first snap that someone is about to get hustled.

Apparently, he’s a lot bigger than his reported Rivals size from last year and I like how fast he shows up on film, as the 5.16 time has to be a mistake of sorts.  He’ll certainly give Ryan Haliburton a run for his money on the depth chart this fall on athletic ability alone.

Surely, someone has seen this guy play and can provide some input.

S Urell Johnson, 6′1″, 185 lbs., New Orleans, LA

A big guy that ran well, albeit wildly, prior to a knee injury this season.  Makes some nice plays on the ball.

He’ll require a redshirt season due to the injury, and given he completely heals, would be another nice injection of athleticism to our DB roster. 

LB Joe Carmical, 6′2″, 225 lbs., Monticello, AR

I really like the direction we decided to go at ILB, and in theory, makes a lot more sense than teaching high school DEs how to play MLB.

Carmical is a 1,300-yard rusher as an option QB, so I appreciate that he’s the best athlete on his team.  A smart player who avoids false steps and guesswork on film, which are nice qualities for a LB to have before he steps on campus.

Best case, he’s Will Herring.  Worst case, he’s Ryan Reynolds.

Either would have started at Tech for the last 80 years.  We’ll have to wait until fall to find out more about his ability to make plays in space, but I like his potential better than what we were about to get into for the position.

LB Zac Winbush, 6′2″, 200 lbs., Schertz, TX (Clemens)

He’s an upgrade in speed and athleticism from our recent history of starters.  Being an accomplished hurdler bodes well for his future, but he’ll have to get stronger and does way too much hopping around on film for my taste at this point.

Good LB coaching can correct this trait.

DB Desmond Martin, 6′0, 173 lbs., Round Rock, TX (Stony Point)

Tweener prospect with a high probability to get squeezed out of the depth chart over his career.

I’ve heard he makes a lot of plays, but Martin looks rail thin to me for a safety prospect and I’m not sure he’s quick enough as a CB in the Big 12.

DE Jackson Richards, 6′4″, 245 lbs., Southlake, TX

He’s a Red Raider fan favorite and boasts as impressive offer list as any defensive player in the class.

I also watched Allen and Arlington Bowie run for about 200 yards a piece at him in the playoffs.  He needs to get a lot stronger before he has impact at the next level.

I think a move to the 3-4 will benefit him as his quickness could be an issue for perimeter duties as a 4-3 end.  Richards has a nice frame and once he gets to 275-280 with a 400-lb bench press, then he could serve as a reliable run stuffer, and his athleticism will translate more effectively on the inside.

Will They Make It Here (Possible Hargrave Placements)

Ath LaVaughn Whigham, 6′1″, 180 lbs., Miami, FL (Southridge)

Silky smooth.  Athleticism places him at the top of the class and he could be an answer to the Kadron Boone loss on offense.  Consider this a gift, if he qualifies and it’s reported to be realistic.

He’s as athletic on film as any DB prospect you ever need to sign.  Could be a big-time player.

CB Philip Warren, 5′9″, 177 lbs., Miami, FL (Southridge)

Same story as Whigham, but I’m predicting a higher grade risk.  Cat quick with an electronic 4.38 under his belt.

He’s a Laron Moore type of player and we can always use guys like that.  You know, that can run.

CB Brandon Smith, 6′1″, 175 lbs., Raceland, LA

The lack of news leads my gut to say we’ll never see him on campus.  Good size and can run, but I bet we’re not counting on him right now.

DE/OLB Lawrence Cayou, 6′4″, 255 lbs., New Orleans, LA

He’s a load on film and came out of nowhere.  The measurables are there, but for some odd reason, I’m suspicious of his grades. 

You’ve Got to Get in There, Son!!!

I expect DL Donald Langley (6′2″, 290) is the frontrunner for a starting gig.  He played at Tennessee as a freshman and probably translates to most legit skillset.

DE Lawrence Rumph (6′4″, 270) has the athletic ability, which he complements with erratic technique on film.

DE Scott Smith (6′7″, 275) is as highly rated by Rivals as any of our signees.  I’m also getting some red flag feelings considering he flamed out of two Pac-10 schools and Bill Snyder passed on him. 

Overall

That’s two classes in a row where we have managed to inject speed into our roster.  We’ve suddenly overcome our short-term depth issues in the secondary between the 2009 and 2010 classes, especially if Whigham, Warren or Smith make it in.  I really like what Bush and Cueball bring to the table as potential edge guys.  

This was written by dedfischer at The Tortilla Retort  

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