Texas Tech football: 5 2019 commits new coach must hang on to
DE Steven Parker
For far too long, Texas Tech has struggled to rush the passer. From 2013-2017 Tech ranked no better than 80th in the nation in sacks and was ranked on average 96th overall. This year, Tech actually saw a decent increase by recording 28 sacks, currently 48th in the nation, but the program is losing its top two pass rushers in Kolin Hill and Tony Jones who have combined for 9.0 sacks.
That is why 4-star defensive end Steven Parker from Dallas, Texas is the most important recruit in the 2019 class. He is the No. 40 player in Texas and the No. 21 overall defensive end in the country.
Tech has not landed a defensive end of this caliber since perhaps Adell Duckett back in 2000. Parker has led South Oak Cliff to an 11-0 record while registering a stunning 20 sacks.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was also the first 2019 recruit to join the Red Raiders current class verbally committing in May of 2017. Because he has been in the fold and so solid with Texas Tech for so over a year-and-a-half, his offer list is not as amazing as it would be otherwise.
He has offers from Purdue, TCU, Baylor, Minnesota and SMU but he has not taken any official visits to any of those schools. So it would appear that he remains solid to Texas Tech and it might be too late in the process for him to fully explore all of the options he may have.
Regardless, the first recruit the new Texas Tech head coach should visit is this potentially game-changing defensive end. There is no reason to think that Parker will not see the field next year, especially because of the lack of depth the Red Raiders have at defensive end.
Entering 2019, the most prolific pass rusher Texas Tech will have on the roster at defensive end is Eli Howard who has eight career sacks. The only other defensive end with any sacks at all is Lonzell Gillmore who has registered just 1.5 in three seasons.
What’s more just over a week ago, prized 2017 signee Nelson Mbanasor announced his intention to transfer leaving an even larger void at the position. That is why Steven Parker is a critical commit that must be the top priority for whomever is hired to be the next head coach.