Texas Tech Football Adds 3-Star 2018 DE

Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech football program is starting to pick up momentum on the recruiting trail after receiving a verbal commitment from 2018 defensive end Cameron Valentine.

After months with no new commitments, the Texas Tech football team has added its second defensive player to the 2018 recruiting class. Three-star defensive end Cameron Valentine, from Richmond, Texas gave his verbal commitment to Kingsbury and company on Monday making him the second 2018 defensive recruit to commit in the past week. Mekhi Gardner , a defensive back from Mesquite, Texas committed to the Red Raiders last week.

Texas Tech fans had been highly critical of the Red Raider’s lack of progress in putting together its defensive class for the current recruiting cycle. However, the Texas Tech defensive coaches, prefer to see players workout in person before offering scholarships to them. This is a tactic that defensive coordinator David Gibbs has employed during his entire time at Tech and despite the questions of many fans about the wisdom of the practice, he seems to be staying with practice.

Valentine is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound prospect from the Houston area. He had offers from UNLV, Tulsa, New Mexico and Louisiana-Lafayette among others.

"“It just seemed like a no-brainer, honestly,” Valentine told the “Lubbock Avalanche-Journal”. “I went up and visited and liked what I saw. The coaches sold the fact that it’s a huge football community and family. I really liked that.”"

As a junior, Valentine amassed 66 tackles and five sacks despite missing the first four games of the season. He sat out due to eligibility questions surrounding his transfer from another school. These modest stats may explain why Valentine has yet to receive interest from other power-5 schools in Texas.

On his highlight video, Valentine appears to be an extremely strong player. His legs look thick and he plays with a strong wide base.

He uses that power and leverage to win at the line of scrimmage with aggressive power. In the video, most of Valentine’s snaps come in the interior off the defensive line where he lined up against offensive guards that he often manhandled. However, his size will require him to play defensive end at Tech where he has the look of a solid run-stopper.

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Valentine does not appear to be very explosive off the ball. He does not play low to the ground and does not display the type of burst off the ball that makes one think he could develop into an elite pass-rusher.

Many are comparing Valentine to former Texas Tech offensive end Jackson Richards because of their similar builds. Richards developed into one of the toughest and most under-apreciated players in the Kingsbury era. Fans would be happy to have another player of that caliber on the roster for the next four years.

Texas Tech will lose only three defensive linemen to graduation after the 2017 season so the team doesn’t figure to add many recruits at that position in 2018. That means that Valentine must be a player that works out and becomes a contributor if the Red Raiders are going to build a respectable defensive front in the near future.

Next: Kingsbury Still Searching For 2018 QB

Texas Tech now has five players committed for 2018. Keep checking in with Wreck ‘Em Red for more updates on the recruiting trail.

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