Athletics
Tech Signs 34 on National Signing Day
Riding
the momentum of one of the best seasons in school history and an appearance
in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, Texas Tech head football
coach Mike Leach signed 34 recruits on National Signing Day. The 2006
class of recruits is the largest in the country and is ranked as high as
No. 16 by Scout.com.
Leach and his staff heavily recruited the state of Texas and landed some of the Lone Star State’s top talent. In addition to the 29 players signed from Texas, two recruits from Louisiana and one each from Oklahoma, Tennessee and California make up the class.
Tech’s class is listed among some of the best in the country by several analysts and recruiting websites. Additionally, Scout.com ranks offensive line (7th) and linebacker (8th) recruits among its top 20 by position, while Rivals.com has Tech’s defensive tackles (11th), defensive backs (9th) and athletes (t13th) listed in its top 20.
The Red Raiders placed an emphasis on defense this year as 20 players comprise the defensive class, including three defensive ends, four defensive tackles, six linebackers, three safeties and four defensive backs. Offensively, the class features one quarterback, two running backs, seven offensive linemen, two wide receivers and two tight ends.
Among this year’s signees are a number of recruits who made waves in recruiting circles at the national level. Midwest City, Okla., defensive back LaRon Moore was listed as the No. 85 overall prospect nationally by Tom Lemming/USA Today. Junior college transfer and Euless native Ofa Mohetau is listed as the No. 2 overall junior college player this year, while defensive back Leonard Hewitt from Lufkin is among the nation’s top 10 safety prospects.
In addition to Mohetau and Hewitt, Tech also signed three other players who ranked among the nation’s top 20 at their respective positions – wide receiver Michael Crabtree, safety Daniel Johnson and quarterback Taylor Potts. Defensive tackle Richard Jones was named the Greater Houston Defensive Player of the Year.
PLAYERS BY POSITION
Cornerback: Leonard Hewitt, LaRon Moore, Jarell Routt, Jamar Wall
Safety: Steve Harris, Daniel Johnson, Franklin Mitchem
Defensive End: Sean Estelle, Jonathan Hollins, Brandon Williams
Defensive Lineman: Rajon Henley, Richard Jones, Broderick Marshall, Dan’Tay Ward
Linebacker: Dewayne Baziel, Blake Collier, Brian Duncan, Julius Howard, Trevor Reilly, Marlon Williams
Offensive Lineman: Adrian Archie, Buddy Brumit, Ben Davis, Tyler Duggins, Dimitri Lott, Ofa Mohetau, Chris Olson
Quarterback: Taylor Potts
Running Back: Baron Batch, Jocques Crawford
Tight End: Adam James, Adrian Reese
Wide Receiver: Michael Crabtree, Lyle Leong
PLAYERS BY STATE
California: Trevor Reilly
Louisiana: Brian Duncan, Jonathan Hollins
Oklahoma: LaRon Moore
Tennessee: Jocques Crawford
Texas: Adrian Archie, Baron Batch, Dewayne Baziel, Buddy
Brumit, Michael Crabtree, Blake Collier, Ben Davis, Tyler Duggins, Sean
Estelle, Steven Harris, Rajon Henley, Leonard Hewitt, Julius Howard, Adam
James, Daniel Johnson, Richard Jones, Lyle Leong, Dimitri Lott, Broderick
Marshall, Franklin Mitchem, Ofa Mohetau, Chris Olson, Taylor Potts, Adrian
Reese, Jarell Routt, Jamar Wall, Dan’Tay Ward, Brandon Williams, Marlon
Williams