Texas Tech Football Gets Pledge From 3-Star RB Garland LaFrance
The Texas Tech football program has picked up a commitment from Louisiana running back Garland LaFrance, the program’s second running back pledge this week.
Garland LaFrance, a three-star running back from New Orleans, Louisiana verbally committed to the Texas Tech football program on Saturday. This came just two days after another Louisiana running back, Devin Brumfield, also gave his verbal commitment to the Red Raiders.
LaFrance is a 5-foot-9, 169-pound prospect who was ranked the 76th overall recruit in the Bayou State by 247Sports.com. He has offers from no other power-5 schools. His current offer list includes among others Tulane, Troy, Army, Toledo, Stephe F. Austin and Nicholls State.
The “New Orleans Times-Picayune” reports that LaFrance was originally committed to Tulane but reopened his recruitment when Texas Tech entered the picture. There is little doubt that new Texas Tech football running backs coach Jabbar Juluke was instrumental in bringing LaFrance into the fold. Juluke is a former long-time New Orleans area high school football head coach in his second stint with the Red Raiders.
According to the website “MaxPreps.com”, the newest Red Raider commit rushed for 490 yards on 82 carries in eleven games as a junior. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry and found the end zone twice.
Displaying excellent balance, LaFrance looks to be comfortable running between the tackles. The 2016 Texas Tech running backs often struggled to make the initial defenders miss in the box which is an essential trait for runners in the “Air Raid” offense. At critical times in games, the Red Raiders need running backs to be able to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations, especially when trying to run out the clock.
LaFrance is not a running back that relies on elite speed to be effective. However, he displays fantastic patience as he lets the play develop. He is a cutback runner that finds creases in the defense and gets vertical quickly.
Another exciting aspect of Garland LaFrance’s game is his elusiveness. He has the kind of wiggle in his hips that makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down in one-on-one situations. In this manner, his game is reminiscent of former Texas Tech football great DeAndre Washington.
It will be interesting to see how Texas Tech employs LaFrance and Brumfield as a duo. Kliff Kingsbury does not usually take multiple running backs in one class so it is natural to wonder if the plan is to convert either LaFrance or Brumfield to inside receiver as was the case with former Red Raider Bradley Marquez, a former high school running back that found success as a receiver at Texas Tech.
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However, there is plenty of time for the Texas Tech coaches sort that out. For now, Kingsbury and his staff are trying to accumulate as much talent as possible and with the help of Juluke, the program seems to be making inroads in the talent-laden hotbed of Louisiana.