Texas Tech football: 5 2019 commits new coach must hang on to

As we wait for the Texas Tech football program to hire its next head coach, the status of the 2019 recruiting class is in flux.  Here are five current commits that the new coaching staff must hang on to in order to keep this class from setting the program back.

Last year, the NCAA initiated an early signing period for high school football recruits for the first time.  Players may now sign their letters of intent in December rather than waiting for the traditional signing day which is always the first Wednesday of February.

Last season, the vast majority of the Texas Tech signing class took advantage of the December window and it is expected to be that way again this year.  That puts Tech in a tough situation as it attempts to find a new head coach who will then have only days to work on keeping the current recruiting class in tact before the December 19-21 window opens.

Tech currently has a respectable class in the works.  Ranked No. 42 in the nation and No. 6 in the Big 12, Tech’s current class has 19 players verbally committed.

But as should be expected, that will change once the new staff is in place.  There will be defections by players that are not excited about the new staff as well as some players that may have their offers rescinded because they do not fit what the new coach wants.

However, it will be essential for the next coach, whoever he may be, to find a way to keep the top-end players in the class on board.  Here are five players that the new Texas Tech football coach must keep committed to the Red Raiders.