Monday, Texas Tech offered a scholarship to 2018 quarterback Maverick McIvor from San Angelo, Texas signaling that the program may be losing confidence in its ability to land its top QB target.
The 2019 Texas Tech football recruiting class is off to a slow start with only two high school players currently listed as verbal commitments. The key domino yet to fall in this class is the quarterback and Monday’s development could signal a shift in the direction Kilff Kingsbury is headed on that front.
Texas Tech offered a scholarship to 6-foot-3, 195-pound Maverick McIvor from San Angleo, Texas Monday making some wonder if the Red Raiders are losing confidence in their ability to land their top prospect Jacob Zeno of San Antonio. Tech offered Zeno a scholarship several months ago but despite his high interest in the Red Raiders (he had an official visit in March), he has not pulled the trigger and since, he’s received other offers from some prominent programs around the nation including Georgia and N.C. State.
Therefore, Texas Tech decided to explore other QB options in case Zeno lands elsewhere. McIvor could be one of the best remaining options in the state and a true sleeper prospect.
Rated as the No. 20 dual-threat QB in the nation and the 116 player in Texas, McIvor has not received the attention that other players of his caliber might. That is likely due to the fact that he plays in San Angleo, far from the media centers of Texas.
Starting at QB for the first time as a junior, the former receiver threw for 3,415 yards and 43 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 2017. Additionally, he ran for 870 yards and eight touchdowns on 166 carries while leading San Angelo Central to an 11-1 record.
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In addition to Texas Tech, McIvor has scholarship offers from Boise St., Colorado St., Minnesota, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Washington St. among others. But his proximity to Lubbock has made him a fan of the Red Raiders and he was on hand for a number of last season’s home games.
This offer adds an interesting twist to the Red Raiders’ plans at quarterback. Should McIvor pull the trigger and commit, it would be interesting to see what the impact would be on Zeno’s thought process, especially if he remains uncommitted.
There is no reason to believe that Kingsbury would not take both QB’s. He attempted to sign two quarterbacks this year when he inked Alan Bowman and offered a scholarship to John Stephen Jones of Highland Park, Texas. Jones eventually signed with Arkansas and their new head coach, former SMU head coach Chad Morris.
McIvor would be a prospect that likely would not push for early playing time. He is a very talented player who would need to refine his skills and develop physically before hitting the field. Zeno likely does not view his situation similarly and his decision might be influenced by the youth at the QB position on Texas Tech’s roster which features Bowman and Jett Duffey as underclassmen who are expected to be major factors moving forward.
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This move is wise on Kingsbury’s part as it is always best to have a number of options, especially at QB. Texas Tech has now handed out two QB offers for 2019 and it will be fascinating to see how the situation plays out from here.