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Texas Tech Football Makes The Cut For Two Top Targets

By Matthew Conner

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 28: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot Raider Red performs during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 49-27. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 28: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot Raider Red performs during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 49-27. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech football team has made the cut for two of its top 2019 targets, safety Brandon Joseph and defensive tackle Taurean Carter II.

The month of June was huge for the Texas Tech football program on the recruiting trail after adding 11 players to the 2019 class.  Wednesday, Kliff Kingsbury received a bit of good news as the Red Raiders look to keep that momentum rolling through July.

Two three-star defensive prospects have listed Texas Tech as being so-called finalists in their recruitment.  Adding these two players would result in a significant boost to the current recruiting class as each would add depth at a position of need.

The first player to release his top choices Wednesday was three-star Mansfield, Texas defensive tackle Taurean Carter II.  The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder is rated the No. 70 prospect in Texas by 247Sports.com.

https://twitter.com/KingCvrterII/status/1014569712951414784

In addition to Texas Tech, Carter has Texas, TCU, Arkansas and Michigan State in his final five schools.  Other Power 5 schools to offer him a scholarship include Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma State and Purdue.

Though Carter plays tackle for Mansfield Legacy High School, he projects as a strong-side defensive end with the size necessary to be a solid run stopper in addition to rushing the passer.  In the current 2019 class, Texas Tech has two defensive ends verbally committed in 4-star Dallas native Steven Parker and three-star Houston native Tony Bradford Jr.

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Still, Kingsbury would welcome another quality defensive lineman in this class since the 2018 signing class did not feature any defensive linemen.  What’s more, Tech will lose Kolin Hill, Tony Jones and Preston Gordon along the d-line following this season.

Texas Tech has also made the cut for College Station, Texas safety Brandon Joseph.  The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect is the No. 84 safety in the nation and the No. 138 player in Texas according to 247Sports.com.

Joseph has listed Texas Tech, Northwestern and Arizona as his top three schools.  He also holds offers from Colorado, Iowa State, Utah and Purdue among others.

The Red Raiders need to make replenishing the defensive back ranks a priority in this recruiting class after not brining in a DB in 2018.  Additionally, Tech will lose safeties Jah’Shawn Johnson and Kisean Allen and corners Octavius Morgan and Vaughnte Dorsey following the upcoming season.

There are currently two defensive backs in the 2019 class.  Three-star Temple, Texas product Markel Reed and two-star Houston product Keeyon Stewart both verbally committed to the Red Raiders in June.

Next: 5 Swing Games In 2018

The Texas Tech football 2019 class currently has 13 players committed which is approximately half of the number most expect Kingsbury to sign.  Keep checking in with Wreck ‘Em Red for all the latest as the Red Raiders continue to build for the future.

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