Texas Tech Football: Red Raiders In Top 10 For Amarillo RB

The Texas Tech football program looks to be in good shape with another west Texas prospect as a highly-touted Amarillo running back has the Red Raiders in his top 10.

During the height of the Spike Dykes era of Texas Tech football, the Red Raiders had a monopoly on West Texas talent. However, that has not been the case in the two decades since Dykes retired as those who’ve followed often disregarded players in their own back yard.  But in the 2019 recruiting class, there is an unusually high amount of West Texas talent and the Red Raiders are looking to capitalize.

One of the top prospects in the region is Amarillo, Texas running back King Doerue.  Saturday, the 5-foot-11, 197-pound three-star prospect listed Texas Tech among his top ten choices.

Along with Texas Tech, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, TCU, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Baylor, and Ole Miss all made the curt for the talented runner’s services.

As a junior, Doerue rushed for 473 yards and nine touchdowns on 53 carries.  Also a member of the Tascosa High School track team, the speedy and powerful running back is rated the No. 34 running back in the nation and the No. 62 prospect in the state.

Last weekend, Doerue took an official visit to Minnesota and he has also taken an unofficial visit to Texas A&M in addition to attending TCU’s junior day in March.  There is no word yet on if or when he will visit Texas Tech but given Lubbock’s proximity to Amarillo, there is reason to believe that the Red Raiders will have an opportunity to host him at some point.

There is a need for Texas Tech to add a running back in the 2019 class.  The team’s presumed top runner this fall, Tre King, will be a senior.  Sophomore Da’Leon Ward is back on the team after being forced to sit out 2017 by the coaching staff for off-field issues making it fair to question if he has the maturity to be counted on as a long-term answer moving forward.

Tech did sign two high school running backs, Ta’Zhawn Henry and SaRodorick Thompson in the 2018 class but previous recruiting misses have left the running back position lacking depth.  The only 2017 running back signee, JUCO transfer Desmond Nisby is no longer on the team as is the case with another 2016 running back signee, Bryson Denley.

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Doerue is also a key for Texas Tech from a geographic perspective.  As the flagship university of West Texas, Texas Tech should be able to put a figurative fence around the local recruiting areas.

Some of the most notable West Texas prospects on the current roster include defensive end Eli Howard (San Angelo), wide receiver Myllar Royals (Abilene), Desmon Smith (Odessa) and Ja’Deion High (Hereford).

And Texas Tech is still looking to add more local talent.  Saturday, Wellington, Texas native and 6-foot-11 offensive tackle Trevor Roberson verbally committed to the Red Raiders.  Additionally, San Angelo three-star QB Maverick McIvor is the program’s top target.  Odessa wide receiver Peyton Powell is yet another player with West Texas roots to hold an offer from Kliff Kingsbury and his staff.

Next: Quan Shorts Dismissed From Texas Tech Football Team

The Red Raiders are hot on the recruiting trail adding four commits in the past week.  Here’s hoping that momentum can continue to build with some of the talented players close to campus starting with King Doerue.