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Five players Texas Tech football is targeting for national signing day
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- Five players Texas Tech football is targeting for national signing day
College football player movement during the twice-a-year NCAA transfer portal windows has become an increasingly important part of the sport, but there are still two national signing periods for high-school recruits, too.
The first starts Wednesday, and whereas the Texas Tech football class is mostly built, the Red Raiders are open to a few last-minute additions. The Red Raiders have commitments from 16 high-school recruits .
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Tech coach Joey McGuire said last week the class could grow to 18.
"There's a couple guys out there that we're in the mix, a couple of national recruits that are game changers," McGuire said. "There's always that thing of, 'If this guy wants to come to Texas Tech, we're going to find a place for him.' "
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The class will be relative small by necessity. Assuming the House v. NCAA case receives final approval in April, football rosters will be capped at 105 players starting in 2025. The Red Raiders' current roster includes 94 players with eligibility remaining beyond this season, plus four seniors eligible for medical hardship waivers for another year: Jordan Brown for the 2021 season, Bryce Ramirez for the 2022 season, Trent Low for the 2023 season and Vinny Sciury for the 2024 season. Brown and Low also have the COVID-bonus year option.
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That number, plus at least 16 high-school additions and McGuire's stated plan to take 10 from the transfer portal, puts Tech nearly 20 above next year's roster limit.
Here are five names to know, any of whom could be a late stocking stuffer for the Red Raiders during the early signing period:
Tobi Haastrup, 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, DE, Katy Mayde Creek:Haastrup's a consensus state top-50 and national top-300 prospect who was credited this season with 48 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss with nine sacks. It was the first year of football for the England native who had long focused on track and field. Haastrup told recruiting services in late November he'll decide among Florida State, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Southern Cal and Texas Tech.
Brendan Haygood, 5-9, 180, RB, Sachse:Haygood carried 151 times for 1,590 yards and 16 touchdowns this season on a 9-2 team in Class 6A. The Texas top-100 prospect was committed to Boise State from late September until last weekend. Now Missouri, Virginia Tech and Cal are after him along with Texas Tech, which he visited the weekend of the Colorado game.
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Lucien Holland, 6-5, 215, DE, Inglewood, Calif.:Holland's another player who's been committed to Boise State — from June until last weekend — but attracted power-conference programs' attention this fall. He was credited with 53 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss with 13½ sacks. Texas Tech offered Holland a scholarship in October, and he's taken three recent visits to his hometown UCLA.
Fern Creek defensive end Travis Moten (58) celebrated after the game after Fern Creek Tigers and Oldham County Colonels faced off in the first round of the KHSAA football playoffs on Friday night. Moten tallied two sacks as the Tigers defeated the Colonels 16-7. Nov. 8, 2024.
Travis Moten, 6-6, 260, DE, Louisville (Ky.) Fern Creek:Interest in Moten mushroomed during a productive senior year in which he was credited with 95 tackles, including 30 tackles for loss with 19½ sacks. Moten visited Texas Tech, Virginia and Michigan over the past month after being committed to Western Michigan from late June to mid-November.
Sean Robinson, 6-5, 215, WR, Cibolo Steele:A two-way player, Robinson has been committed since mid-June to Arizona, which is recruiting him for the defensive side. Texas Tech recently offered him a scholarship and appears to project him as a receiver. Though Robinson didn't put up big numbers this season, his size and athletic ability netted him scholarship offers from Nebraska and Oklahoma State, among more than a dozen suitors.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Five players Texas Tech football is targeting for national signing day
