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Frenship's Leyton Stone knew he wanted to play for Texas Tech football 'when I was born'
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- Frenship's Leyton Stone knew he wanted to play for Texas Tech football 'when I was born'
WOLFFORTH — Most of the recruits Tom Stone convinces to attend Texas Tech join him on the soccer field. The coach provided an assist for the football team 18 years in the making.
Frenship receiver Leyton Stone signed with the Red Raiders on Wednesday, culminating a less-than-dramatic recruiting process. Stone verbally committed a year ago, but he knew long before that he wanted to play at Tech. His dad set that in motion when he became head coach of the Red Raiders soccer team in 2007.
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When exactly did the younger Stone know?
"Basically, when I was born," Leyton Stone said. "When my dad moved us from Atlanta … until I could understand what football was, I always knew that. Playing in the front yard with all my friends, I was always wearing red and black. It was always a dream of mine."
Stone grew up watching games from his dad's office in the south end zone. The senior said the Kliff Kingsbury-era teams made him fall in love with football. T.J. Vasher, Dylan Cantrell and Jakeem Grant were among his favorite Tech pass-catchers.
The Red Raiders offered Stone as a sophomore. He did his due diligence before deciding Tech was a no-brainer.
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"I gave it a year to see what else is there," Stone said. "But then I just realized Tech is my home. I knew that this is the place where I want to be. All these people that came to watch the signing today will be able to watch me play at home. If I went anywhere else, they wouldn't be able to come.
"That means a lot to me. All these people here, I love 'em to death."
Frenship's Leyton Stone, center, poses with family after signing with Texas Tech football at a ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Frenship ISD's Performing Arts Center in Wolfforth.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Frenship WR Leyton Stone signs with Texas Tech football
