How Does Texas Tech Need To Fill Out 2019 Recruiting Class?

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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Nic Shimonek #16 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders hands the ball off toTre King #24 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of the game on November 11, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Running Back

Many casual football fans do not recognize how important the running back position is in the “Air Raid” offense. But astute observers know that Texas Tech’s offense has been at its best when featuring star running backs like DeAndre Washington, Taurean Henderson, Baron Batch or Shannon Woods.

But since Washington graduated after the 2015 season, the production from the Red Raider running backs has waned. So to has the recruiting at the position and thus far, Kingsbury is still searching for a 2019 running back.

In 2018, Kingsbury added two freshman running backs, Ta’Zhawn Henry and Sarodorick Thompson and both are expected to see the field this fall. But with Tre King and DeMarcus Felton exhausting their eligibility following this season, Tech will need to bring in at least one running back in 2019.

The Red Raiders’ top target appears to be Amarillo’s King Doerue. The three-star prospect has an impressive offer list that includes Baylor, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame, TCU and Missouri. Texas Tech is squarely in the mix because of proximity but Amarillo has not been a fertile recruiting field for the Red Raiders for quite some time.

Unfortunately, the running back position has not broken well for Kingsbury in recent recruiting classes. In 2017, the only RBs he signed were JUCO transfers Tre King and Desmond Nisby. While King will have a significant role this year, Nisby left the program earlier this summer.

In 2016, Kingsbury landed two more running backs, Bryson Denley, who is no longer in the program and Da’Leon Ward who sat out 2017 for off field reasons but is expected to compete with King for the starting job this fall.

Likewise, 2015 RB signee Corey Dauphine, one of the most hyped running backs to sign with Texas Tech, left the program after his redshirt freshman season and is now at Tulane where he expects to start this year.

It will be important for Kingsbury to not only sing a running back in the class but it is essential that whichever RB he inks makes a significant impact in the upcoming years.

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