Texas Tech, Tommy Tuberville Excited About 2010 Recruiting Class

Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville has his first recruiting class signed. So what impact, if any, will this class have on Texas Tech during the 2010 football season?

Red Raider nation can expect some impact on the defensive side of the ball, but there will be minimal impact on the offensive side.

There is nothing wrong with the offensive players that Texas Tech signed. The offense is simply populated with an abundance of returning starters and had been the stronger unit under former coach Mike Leach.

Incoming defensive players should have more opportunities to contribute right away than incoming offensive players will.

On balance, this should turn out to be a good recruiting class. Coach Tuberville signed defensive players that can help him now and offensive players that will potentially pay huge dividends down the road.

Here is a look at some of the top Texas Tech recruits and what sort of impact they could have.

Scotty Young

Young is a great high school quarterback, but it will be a complete shock if he doesn't redshirt next year. Texas Tech is loaded at quarterback, with two seniors competing for the starting job.

Look for Scotty Young to compete with Jacob Karam and Seth Doege in 2011 for the starting job.

Delans Griffin

Griffin is a highly touted running back out of Oklahoma, but comes into a situation where Texas Tech is loaded at running back.

Unless Coach Tuberville wants to burn a year of his eligibility for a shot as a return man, Griffin is also a good candidate for a redshirt in 2010.

Ben McRoy

McRoy is the one offensive recruit that might have a shot to contribute in 2010.

He is not the best offensive recruit for Texas Tech, but he may be the most versatile. He projects as an inside receiver or running back for Tommy Tuberville. He also was a return man as well as a corner back in high school.

McRoy could potentially fill several different roles for Texas Tech, if needed, and has the outstanding 4.4 speed that Coach Tuberville wants.

Scott Smith

Smith could be scary good. At 6'7'' and 275 pounds, he projects as a defensive end/outside linebacker.

Smith was the top JUCO defensive line prospect in the nation; he could step in and start right away.

Donald Langley

Langley is another JUCO player. He was highly sought after coming out of high school and, like Scott Smith, should compete for a starting job.

At 295 pounds, Langley has the kind of size Texas Tech will need at defensive tackle to run a 3-4 defense.

Jackson Richards

Richards was considered one of the best defensive ends in Texas high school football. He may have a chance to get on the field in 2010, but he could also be redshirted due to Texas Tech signing several JUCO defensive lineman with limited eligibility left.

Richards should definitely be a big contributor either in 2010 or in 2011.

No matter what any recruiting service says, this class gives Texas Tech the players it needed to at least maintain the current level of the program. Depending on how many recruits actually make it to campus and how a few of them develop, this could still turn out to be one of Texas Tech's better recruiting classes.

The incoming defensive players should be fun to watch next year and will give everyone an early barometer of how good this class could be.