Texas Tech football: RB Cam’Ron Valdez commits to Red Raiders

Thursday, the Texas Tech football team picked up a verbal commitment from RB Cam’Ron Valdez, one of the top offensive weapons in the state of Texas.

Though it may seem hard to believe, the 2020 early signing window for high school football recruits is only two months away.  Fortunately for the Texas Tech football program, business has been picking up on that front over the past week.

In fact, on Thursday, head coach Matt Wells won one of his biggest recruiting battles as a college head coach when he secured a verbal commitment from running back Cam’Ron Valdez.  The Rockdale native made his announcement on Twitter where he ended a highly-contested courtship battle between nearly 20 Power 5 programs and a host of others.

Rated the No. 18 RB in the nation and No. 53 player in Texas by the 247Sports composite rankings, the Rockdale native is one of the best running back recruits to sign with Texas Tech in the last 20 years.  In fact, he’s the 41st-best recruit to commit to Tech since 247Sports began ranking recruits almost two decades ago.

What’s more, only two running backs to sign with the Red Raiders during that time period have rated higher as recruits.  They were Corey Dauphine in the class of 2015 and Eric Stephens in the class of 2009.

At 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, Valdez is one of the most productive RBs in the state.  Thus far in his high school career, he’s amassed 3,636 rushing yards and 60 TDs while averaging 8.3 yards per carry.

"“Owns an adequate build for an FBS running back prospect,” writes Gabe Brooks of 247Sports. “Limited space to add mass. Productive back with big numbers at the Texas 3A level. Shows above average foot quickness in the hole. Runs with good vision and pad level. Strong runner who runs hard and finishes chances. At his best getting downhill ASAP and running north-south or in one-cut situations. Sometimes gets overzealous trying to make too many unnecessary moves. Bounce-happy and won’t find as much success doing so vs. Power Five competition compared to Texas 3A. Above average open-field speed but can still get faster at the top end. Limited pass-catching reps. High-floor running back with proven volume and production capabilities who projects to the P5 level.”"

The Red Raiders’ current recruiting class now has 11 members and has moved up to No. 69  in the nation after being rated as low as No. 91 just two weeks ago.   And Valdez is the second impact recruit that Wells has added in the span of seven days.

Last week, massive 3-star OT Jacoby Jackson gave his verbal pledge to Tech.  His commitment ended a drought of over two months without a commit for Wells’ program.

Valdez gives Tech fans reason to be excited for the future of the RB position in Lubbock.  With SaRodorick Thompson just a redshirt sophomore, Xavier White being a junior, and Tahj Brooks being a true freshman, the Red Raiders now appear to have finally put behind them the days when their depth at that spot on the roster was one of the weaknesses of the program.  And many believe that Valdez has the highest ceiling of all the RBs currently in Tech’s pipeline.