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Texas Tech football: 2019 recruiting class could have heavy JUCO presence

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Vaughnte Dorsey #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gets past Ben Powers #72 of the Oklahoma Sooners after making an interception during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Vaughnte Dorsey #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gets past Ben Powers #72 of the Oklahoma Sooners after making an interception during the first half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The 2019 Texas Tech football recruiting class could very well have a heavy JUCO influence because of the timing of the coaching change as it relates to the new December signing period.

New Texas Tech football head coach Matt Wells and his coaching staff has hit the road trying to salvage the 2019 recruiting class.  But with under two weeks until the opening of the early signing period for football prospects, the Red Raiders might have to turn to the JUCO ranks to help solidify the roster in some much-needed areas.

As expected, the current class has been hit by numerous defections in the wake of Kliff Kingsbury’s firing .  And with such little time until recruits can sign their letters of intent, Tech’s coaches must attack the recruiting process on three different fronts.

First, they have had to meet with the majority of the players that are still verbally committed in hopes of keeping them in the fold.  Second, they have been attempting to meet with the five players that have recently jumped ship and trying to get them back on board.

The top two targets that the coaches (and fans) would like to see recommit to the Red Raiders are 4-star defensive end Steven Parker from Dallas and 3-star San Angelo QB Maverick McIvor.  We also know that Houston defensive back Keeyon Stewart, who decomitted late last week, is a priority as he was the first player Wells went to see in person as Texas Tech head coach.

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The third task facing the staff is to find new talent to help fill out a class that currently has as many as 10 spots available.  But since the high school talent pool is largely picked over and most of the players Wells had recruited to play at Utah State are not Big 12 caliber players, the staff may have to turn to the JUCO ranks to not only help cover for defections but also supplement the roster with the type of players that the staff needs to add in order to implement its system.

One such JUCO target that could bring a new dimension to the offense is tight end Travis Koontz from Ventura College in California.  The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Ohio native recently reported an offer from Texas Tech.  He was originally committed to Pitt but decomitted in October.

It is worth noting that this is the first offensive player to receive an offer from the new staff and there is good reason.  Offensive coordinator David Yost prefers to have a tight end on the field for the vast majority of his team’s snaps, partially because he likes to run the football almost 50% of the time and he wants an extra blocker to help open holes.

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Currently, Tech does not have a true tight end on the roster.  Converted wide receiver Donta Thompson tried to fill that role last season but he is not as skilled of a blocker as a true tight end should be.  The Red Raiders are set to sign Magnolia, TX tight end Simon Gonzalez in this class but at just 222-pounds, he may need a year in the weight room to be able to do everything Yost wants him to do.

Koontz holds offers from the likes of TCU, Michigan State, UCONN, Boise State, Louisville, LSU, Maryland and San Diego State among others.  He would be the first true tight end to play for the Red Raiders since Jace Amaro left for the NFL after his junior season in 2012.

Another JUCO prospect to report an offer from the Red Raiders is defensive back Brion Murray from Coffeyville C.C. in Kansas.  The 6-foot, 178-pounder reportedly holds offers from Virginia Tech, Hawaii, Utah State and Tennessee Martin as well as Texas Tech.

He could be looked to as an option to help offset the decomittments of the three high school defensive backs that have jumped ship in the past week.   The Texas Tech defensive backfield was suspect at best in 2018 ranking in the bottom five in the nation against the pass and is losing both starting safeties from last year so reinforcements are needed.

In recent years, the Kingsbury regime had some excellent success in mining the JUCO ranks.  Of course, everyone knows about the success story of Dakota Allen, but Tech has also found gems like running back Tre King, defensive backs Vaughnte Dorsey and Octavious Morgan, center Paul Stawarz, defensive tackle Mych Thomas, kick returner DeQuan Bowman and outside linebacker Tony Jones.

But after taking ten JUCO players in the class of 2017, Tech added only two in 2018.   A number of misses on JUCO players left the Kignsbury staff disenchanted with the idea of investing too heavily in the JUCO market.

However, the new Texas Tech staff may have no choice this year.  JUCO players often do not sign until the traditional signing day in February because they have to finish their spring coursework in order to have enough credits to enroll at a four-year college so that could give Wells more time to find potential prospects in that particular talent pool.

Next. Why Matt Wells could succeed in year-one. dark

There are currently no JUCO players committed to Utah State for 2019 and the Aggies added only four in the 2018 class.  But do not be surprised to see this year’s Texas Tech football class feature a stronger JUCO presence than in most years simply because it may be the only way this staff can make up for lost time.

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