Texas Tech football: Red Raiders in good shape with recruiting class

The Texas Tech football team is in good shape after the early signing period.

It’s been a rough season, and especially a rough few weeks, for Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells. Fan confidence in him is probably the lowest it’s been in his two years in Lubbock. But in spite of all that, there’s reason to be excited for the future of the program, and it starts with the players coming in for the 2021 season.

Some of you will think I’m crazy, especially when you look at the overall rankings for this recruiting class. Rivals.com has the Red Raiders tied at No. 89 nationally, and 247sports.com has them ranked 75th, both of which are dead last in the Big 12. But that’s because these rankings place a high value on the quantity of recruits, and Texas Tech has signed only 10 players thus far.

But the players they have signed are good. In terms of the average recruit ranking, Texas Tech is fifth in the Big 12 on both sites, ahead of the likes of Oklahoma State and Iowa State. In fact, it’s the program’s highest average recruit ranking in the history of the 247sports.com site.

Quantity is important, of course, but it’s less important this year than in other years. Some key players, including linebackers Colin Schooler and Riko Jeffers, defensive backs DaMarcus Fields and Seth Collins, tight end Travis Koontz, and receiver McLane Mannix, will be returning in 2021 to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility. A few others, including defensive back Zech McPhearson, are still deciding.

Wells has also left some spots open for JUCO players and transfers, so there will likely be a few more names joining the ranks before next season’s opener. There are some spots to fill on the offensive and defensive lines and in the receiving corps, and there weren’t any new linebackers or defensive backs added to the program on Wednesday, but there’s plenty of time left.