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Texas Tech football: 5 Preferred walk-on’s that could eventually play for Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: General view of fireworks during the National Anthem before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on October 22, 2016 at AT /
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OL – Cole Thomas

Texas Tech signed only two offensive linemen in the 2019 class.  That leaves quite a void at a position where teams often aim to sign at least four players per year.

That’s why landing 6-foot-7, 265-pound Cole Thomas from Seattle, Washington was a huge win for the new staff.  The 3-star prospect had offers from Utah State, Air Force and Columbia as well as an offer to walk on for his hometown Washington Huskies.

But it was the connection he built with Matt Wells, David Yost and new Tech OL coach Steve Farmer when they were recruiting him to Utah State that helped bring him to Lubbock.

"“A lot of coaches would go back on their word,” Thomas told the Seattle Times.“They’d say I’m the only guy they’re talking to, then I’d pull up on Twitter and see they offered two more offensive tackles, or they’d hang me out to dry and stop talking to me. Recruiting is nasty at points. It really is, but Utah State was never like that. “… What solidified that word was going over to Texas Tech and saying, ‘Hey, we want you.’ Coach Farmer had been there for five days when he gave me a call.”"

Thomas does not yet have the frame to play offensive line in the Big 12.  He is far too lanky for a player of his height and he will require plenty of time in the weight room where the coaching staff hopes he can fill out.

But as evidenced by his offers from Air Force and Columbia, he is highly intelligent and should have no problem picking up the nuances of Tech’s offense.  If he can find a way to add some quality weight, he could be a future answer along the offensive line.  Here’s betting the Pacific Northwestern product will quickly find out why Texans love Whataburger so dearly.

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