Red Raider Sports Magazine April/May 2014

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Michael Strong

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RED RAIDER

sports.com

RedRaiderSports.com is a publication of TRI Productions Volume 19 Issue 5 Managing Editor

Chris Level

Cover Photo

Michael Strong

Photographers

Logan Hawk Norvelle Kennedy Michael Strong

Writers

Kayla Curry Al Pickett

Will McKay

Red Raider Sports (USPS 0013-768) is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. Single issues cost $4.95; subscription rate for one year is $20. Annual Red Raider Club membership dues of $125 or higher include $16 for a one-year subscription to Red Raider Sports Magazine.

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RED RAIDER

TTU Media

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update

YOUR RED RAIDER CLUB

F R O M D I R E C T O R A M Y M. H E A R D

Facebook.com/RedRaiderClub | Twitter @RedRaiderClub

It continues to be an amazing

time to be a Red Raider!

NEW NORTH END CLUB SEATING

We hope you have had a

chance to catch one of our amazing spring sports in competition, from baseball and softball to tennis, golf and track our student-athletes continue to represent Texas Tech both on the field of play and in the class-

Amy M. Heard Red Raider Club Director

room as true Fearless Champions.

The continued success of all of

our sports has led to an increased demand for premium seating, especially in Jones AT&T Stadium.

We are very excited to announce the addition of club seating in the north end for the 2014 football season.

We go to print with this space is already more than 50% sold

and we anticipate these seats will continue to move quickly. In addition to traditional premium benefits like parking and access to premium concessions, our newest club seats are closer to the playing field than any other premium seating offered thus far.

On the Red Raider Club membership front, please be aware of

the May 31st membership donation deadline. While we are excited to receive your donations year round, making your contribution by the May 31st deadline guarantees that you will receive your Red Raider Club premium membership packet with special Red Raider Club appreciation items and all your RRC benefits throughout the year.

GO TECH!

Amy

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Ifeatu Okafor Former Texas Tech student athlete I am the 2013 NCAA Woman of the Year.

In 2012, I earned the Big 12 Conference Dr. Gerald Lage Award, the conference’s highest academic honor.

I was the 2011 Big 12 Shot Put Champion and named first team All-American.

I am currently studying to become a physician assistant.

I am many things.

But wherever I go and whatever I do,

EVERY DAY, I am a Red Raider.

8

#IAmARedRaider

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www.IAmARedRaider.com

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9

On a

Kliff Kingsbury and the Red Raider football team continue what they started last year but with consistency and stability on their side.

For the very first time since the 2007-08 offseason, the Red Raiders began spring practice without any kind of controversy. Kliff Kingsbury is still Texas Tech’s head coach, Matt Wallerstedt is still his defensive coordinator and Davis Webb is the team’s starting quarterback. Instead of learning a new system on offense or defense or adjusting to a new position coach or coordinator, players were able to focus purely on improving every day.

On offense, many players told the media that they felt things went much smoother this spring than last, stating that the pace of the offense is up, and time spent learning plays and responsibilities is down. On defense, players are in the same system for the second year in a row for the first time in five seasons.

Wallerstedt was proud of his players this spring, often saying that the speed at which his defenders were playing was “night and day” compared to the big installation that went on last spring. The systems are the same, and the players are finally honing their crafts in the same three-man front defense and the same uptempo, high powered offense.

Webb has continued to improve since he wowed college football fans with his MVP performance in the Holiday Bowl, and it’s become clear that he’s the alpha male of the Red Raider offense. The sophomore signal caller has put on roughly 20 pounds, and his once wiry frame looks much more like that of a collegiate veteran. His arm has become noticeably stronger as a result, and his throws have much more zip and spin on them. His physical tools aren’t the only thing that’s improved, either.

Now that he’s the team’s unquestioned starter, Webb has asserted himself as the leader of the offense. Players respect him, and he pushes his teammates on a daily basis. The quarterback showed off his new arm and traits as an on field general throughout 10

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the spring, and it’s very clear that the Prosper product is ready to assert himself as one of the Big 12’s top tier quarterbacks.

Running back Kenny Williams also made waves this spring. He seemed poised to have a great senior season as the leader of the backfield but that all changed when Williams decided to make the switch to defense. The senior’s move to Raider linebacker was totally out of the blue, and many wondered why the incumbent starter at tailback would want to go through a position change this late in his career. The answer was simple: Williams is a leader. He saw that the team had a hole to fill at outside linebacker and he wants to do whatever he can to help his team. With the move set in stone, attention soon focused on the senior.

No one knew what to expect out of Williams as an outside linebacker, including his coaches. He’s a fluid, natural athlete, but after playing offense exclusively for his entire career, could he really excel on defense?

It appears that he very well may. Co-defensive coordinator and outside linebacker coach Mike Smith was very pleased with Williams’ progress this spring, and it looks like Williams locked up the top spot at Raider linebacker.

Other pieces have emerged this spring, too, and Tech may have a chance to be a better football team in 2014 than they were in 2013. Some things are still up in the air, however, as the Red Raiders will add two junior college offensive linemen, Dominique Robertson and Shaquille Davis, and three junior college defensive linemen, Brandon Thorpe, Marcus Smith, and Rika Levi, this summer. With the addition of those pieces, the coaching staff expects both the offensive and defensive lines to take significant steps forward.

There are still some unknowns leading into the 2014 season, but the Red Raiders appear to be heading in the right direction.

Michael Strong

b y W I L L M C K AY

Michael Strong

Roll

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Michael Strong

E V I S N E F F O S I S Y ANAL

Quarterbacks

The Davis Webb era has officially begun. He impressed throughout the spring, showing off improved arm strength and new confidence as the one true leader of the offense. He made some extremely impressive throws during the spring, fitting balls into very tight windows for a player of his age.

After Webb, however, the depth chart at quarterback is dangerously thin. Walk-on Tanner Tausch, who backed up Webb throughout the spring, decided to quit the team in April. Incoming true freshman Patrick Mahomes is expected to be the second-string signal caller in the fall, but there’s a chance that he will choose to pursue a professional baseball career over the college experience. With no experience of any kind behind Webb, it suffices to say that the Red Raiders will need to keep the rising sophomore upright and healthy this season.

Michael Strong

Running Backs

Now that Kenny Williams has found a new home on defense, junior DeAndre Washington is in line to become the starter at tailback.

For the first time since tearing his ACL in 2011, Washington looks to be 100 percent healthy and confident. His cuts are crisp, and he’s back to his old jitterbugging ways.

Behind Washington lies redshirt sophomore Quinton White, and he’s become a bit of a fan favorite in his young career because of his vision with the ball and signature spin move. Pass protection has been an issue with White in the past, and his time on the field will largely be determined by his ability to block. Fullback Rodney Hall looks to have a vital role in short yardage and goal line situations as well, and the coaching staff is excited about the packages involving the big back.

True freshman Justin Stockton will likely earn his share of carries as well, as he brings a new element of speed to the offense. The running game could be by committee this fall, but every tailback is talented in different ways, creating a diverse and improved ground attack in 2014.

Receivers Jace Amaro and Eric Ward are gone, and the Red Raiders need one or two go-to receivers to emerge and fill their shoes. Jakeem Grant and Bradley Marquez (pictured below) are the most likely candidates to play a more prominent role in the offense. Marquez has been moved inside to Y receiver, essentially removing the tight end position from the offense and returning to a more traditional type of Air Raid.

Marquez’s move inside also makes room for Reginald Davis to start at Z outside receiver. Davis could very well be the breakout star of the offense this season, and much is expected of the redshirt sophomore, especially after his big bowl game performance.

On the other side of the offense, JUCO transfer Devin Lauderdale, Georgia native D.J. Polite-Bray and junior Derreck Edwards are battling at the X outside receiver position. Polite-Bray put together several good performances in front of fans at both the Midland scrimmage and at Friday Night Lights, and the true sophomore is another candidate to breakout.

Slot receiver Jakeem Grant might be the best of the bunch, as he made highlight plays left and right throughout the spring. Grant has matured as a player and person over the last few months, and he’s playing the best football of his career right now.

Overall, while Tech loses two stalwarts in Ward and Amaro, this may be the fastest receiving corps to ever play at Texas Tech.

Offensive Line The offensive line could be a team strength in 2014, as Beau Carpenter was the only player to leave the unit from 2013. Le’Raven Clark will continue to be the anchor of the unit, but he might move to left guard or right tackle if JUCO transfer Dominique Robertson comes in as advertised this summer. That should not be looked at as a negative for Clark, as it will be a huge positive for the line as a whole.

Shaquille Davis, another junior college transfer from California, is also expected to push for a starting job at one of the guard positions along with Baylen Brown, Trey Keenan and Alfredo Morales.

Center Jared Kaster missed the spring while rehabbing a shoulder injury, and Tony Morales emerged as a legitimate option at center after finally becoming healthy for the first time in his career. The two will likely battle it out for the starting job in fall camp.

Offensive line coach Lee Hays now has a wealth of both talent and depth, and Red Raider fans should feel very good about things up front this year.

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Michael Strong

E V I S N E F E D S I S Y ANAL

Defensive Line

Texas Tech’s defensive line unit was incomplete this spring as the team will be adding three more junior college prospects to the position group in June. The standouts that went through the spring include Pennsylvania native and defensive end Branden Jackson, who looks to be one of Tech’s best defensive players this fall, Keland McElrath, a JUCO defensive tackle who arrived in December and went through the spring, and senior Jackson Richards.

McElrath missed part of the spring with a stress fracture in his foot, but once he became healthy and got in the rhythm of things, the defensive tackle began to look like the run-stopping prospect they hoped to get when they signed him.

The other JUCO defensive line signees won’t arrive until June, but once they hit campus they will add an element of size to the Red Raiders’ defensive front that wasn’t there last season. Rika Levi will anchor things at nose tackle as a 350-pound cinder block, while Brandon Thorpe and Marcus Smith will find a home at either tackle or defensive end. This will hopefully shore up the team’s run defense The defensive line had a hard time slowing down Tech’s rushing attack at times this spring, and it’s unknown if the new JUCO prospects will improve the situation. That’s the hope for now, and we’ll find out in August just how good Tech’s defensive line will be.

Linebacker

With Terrance Bullitt and Will Smith gone, the Red Raiders entered the spring with two glaring holes at Mike and Raider linebacker. Those questions were answered in the spring, however.

Senior Utah transfer V.J. Fehoko, the brother of former Tech linebacker Sam Fehoko, impressed at Mike this spring. Wallertstedt loves his intensity, and Fehoko seems to have found a home as a starter. At Raider linebacker, former running back Kenny Williams has excelled, showing off his fluid athleticism and veteran leadership in his new position. With those two players answering questions, the unit looks to be very formidable this fall.

Senior Will linebacker Sam Eguavoen is back for his final season in Lubbock, and he’s become one of the defense’s vocal leaders. He also showed marked improvement from last season in the spring. Then there’s athletic freak Pete Robertson at Bandit linebacker. He’ll continue to excel in his hybrid role as a pass rusher, and he could be the best player on the entire defense by the time the season is over.

Secondary

After establishing himself as one of the team’s best cornerbacks late in the 2013 season sophomore Justis Nelson continued to impress this spring. At the other side, however, questions remain. Dee Paul, La’Darius Newbold, Tyler Middleton and Thierry Nguema all battled for the other starting cornerback position this spring. While each player looked good at various times throughout, none of them were able to claim the top job.

Whoever ends up starting, however, could very well be a solid starter. The Red Raiders will add true freshmen options in Michael Coley, Tevin Madison and Nigel Bethel this fall and they will be given an opportunity to compete for the job as well.

At safety, things were ultra-competitive. With incumbent starter J.J. Gaines out with an injury this spring, players like JUCO transfer Josh Keys, Dorian Crawford, Keenon Ward (making a tackle at the Spring Game below) and Jalen Barnes all fought for a starting job.

Ward was the best of the bunch, and he’s made a ton of progress since last fall. The defensive coaching staff loved what they saw out of Ward this spring, and Wallerstedt went as far naming him the spring defensive MVP. Ward was solid in coverage and delivered some nasty hits during the various open scrimmages, and his progress as a player is very obvious.

The competition for both safety spots will continue into the summer and fall and the addition of freshmen such as Payton Hendrix and Jah’Shawn Johnson will make for a talentdeep safety unit for years to come.

Michael Strong

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Norvelle Kennedy

RED RAIDER CLUB

SCHOLAR ATHLETE

Samantha Adams

b y K AY L A C U R RY

Samantha Adams began her career at Texas Tech as a promising tennis recruit and ended it as one of the biggest reasons why the Lady Raiders won two Big 12 Championships during her time on the South Plains.

While the conference titles were uncharted territory for Texas Tech’s women’s tennis program, Adams is accustomed to winning championships.

She won three at New Braunfels High School before ever stepping foot in Lubbock.

“My sister and I got to the state finals in doubles my sophomore and junior year,” Adams said. “Then my little brother and I played mixed doubles for the individuals and we won state my senior year.”

Adams, a five-star recruit coming out of high school, blazed her own trail and chose to play her collegiate tennis for Lady Raider coach Todd Petty.

“For me, that was one of the first big recruits out of our own territory to try to put Texas Tech tennis on the map,” Petty said. “She had great leadership qualities. She was very popular when it came to her peers at that level.

You could tell right away that she was going to be a difference maker to the program.”

Both of Adams’ parents played collegiate tennis -- her father played for the Red Raiders -- but she was given the freedom to make her own decision and that path took her to West Texas.

“They left it up to me and supported me in my decision,” she said. “I mean, I always had a Texas Tech hat growing up, but my dad never pushed it too much.”

Adams believed so strongly in what Petty was building on the South Plains that she committed to the Lady Raiders before visiting the program.

“Playing in the Big 12 was something I always wanted to do growing up,” Adams said. “Coach Petty was very ambitious about his goals for the program and just really sold me on where we would go.”

That vision materialized very quickly for Adams, Petty and the Lady Raiders. She was named ITA Texas Region Rookie of the Year as a freshman and helped the team improve its national rankings by nearly 30 spots.

The accolades continued to pile up, with Adams being recognized as an AllBig 12 performer in singles and doubles and an ITA Texas Region Player to Watch.

Adams’ success at Texas Tech wasn’t limited to the tennis court. She has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 team and holds a cumulative 3.8 GPA. “I’m a big of a perfectionist,” she said. “It’s not a secret. It’s never really been a question for me with grades. I really push to get the best grades I can get. It’s been natural to me to do my best in both areas.”

It’s hard to imagine Adams’ Texas Tech career turning out much better on or off the court. She has earned individual accolades, won championships with her teammates and helped elevate the Lady Raider tennis program to new heights.

“She became exactly what I thought she would be,” Petty said.

Adams is on track to graduate in May and plans to pursue a graduate degree in sports management.n

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Uncharted

Jarrett Stidham is leading the Red Raider football program into

Recruiting is all about relationships,

recruiting conversation that, up until now,

and the Texas Tech coaching staff has been

hasn’t included Texas Tech. Stidham chose

cultivating relationships with recruits, their

the Red Raiders over offers from Alabama,

families and high school coaches from the

Oregon, Texas A&M and dozens of others

moment Kliff Kingsbury took over the Red

and fans and analysts across the country

Raider football program 18 months ago.

took immediate notice.

Those relationships are beginning to bear fruit as Kingsbury is on track to sign a banner class in 2015.

That process starts with landing a com-

mitment from an elite quarterback. Not only

are quarterbacks typically a team’s field

and Ryan Newsome have already flocked

age. He’s already extremely polished as a

general on the gridiron, but they also typical-

to the quarterback. Newsome, who already

passer, flicking the ball down field with ac-

ly take leadership roles within a program’s

holds more than 20 offers from schools

curacy and ease, both in the pocket and

recruiting class. The Red Raiders not only

around the country, acknowledged the role

when he’s under pressure. He threw for

needed a signal caller with elite physical

that Stidham’s commitment played in his

2,687 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five

attributes, but they also needed one that

interest in the Red Raiders: “Jarrett, man,

interceptions last season as a junior.

could help spearhead the program’s 2015

he’s the best of the best. I’m really interest-

recruiting efforts. They found a perfect com-

ed in Texas Tech. If anybody is wondering,

ed runner as well, running for 975 yards last

bination of both with Stephenville (Texas)

it’s really not a secret that I’m interested in

fall, averaging 6.8 yards per carry and scor-

standout Jarrett Stidham.

Tech.”

ing 16 touchdowns on the ground. Stidham

Stidham, the top-ranked dual-threat

Interest in the Red Raiders extends out

is not a careless runner, either. He leaves

quarterback in the country according to Ri-

of state, too. Stidham has been talking to

the pocket only when he is rolling out or es-

vals.com, visited Lubbock in late February

the top player in Louisiana for the 2015 re-

caping pressure, and he mostly runs when

for a visit. The first visit went so well, he de-

cruiting class, New Orleans wide receiver

his options are totally exhausted in the

cided to take another visit just a few weeks

Tyron Johnson. It’s these type of players

passing game.

later. By mid-March, he was verbally com-

that are interested in playing with Stidham,

mitted to the Red Raiders.

and the Red Raiders will surely benefit in

ers is the fact that the quarterback is an ear-

the 2015 recruiting cycle.

ly enrollee, so he’ll be on campus in Janu-

ary. That’s become an even bigger point

With Stidham’s commitment, the Red

Raiders were catapulted into a national 18

RedRaiderSports.com

Top players like Aledo (Texas) athlete

As a player, Stidham is the total pack-

The Stephenville gunslinger is a talent-

Another huge positive for the Red Raid-

of emphasis over the last few weeks as walk-on quarterbacks Tanner Tausch and Mike Richardson have both left the program leaving little depth behind Davis Webb.

Incoming

freshman

Patrick

Mahomes

and three walk-ons will bolster the team’s depth at quarterback this summer, but going through an entire season with only two scholarship quarterbacks -- or even just one if Mahomes chooses to pursue a professional baseball career -- could be very tricky. So, to put it very simply, Stidham cannot get to campus soon enough. n

Territory RedRaiderSports.com

19

FOOTBALL RECRUITING

20

RedRaiderSports.com

heading back home.

The defensive tackle is a game changer along the defensive line. He can play the nose tackle, defensive tackle or defensive end positions in Tech’s base threeman front defense, Breiden Fehoko but the coaches will likely start him out as a tackle.

Fehoko is country strong, and he’s extremely explosive and athletic for his size. He’s a nightmare as both a run stopper and interior pass rusher, and he’s a player that should be expected to contribute, if not start, as a true freshman in 2015.

Fehoko committed to Tech over offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, USC, Clemson, Oregon, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Stanford, and Ole Miss among others.

Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial running back Corey Dauphine (6-1, 180) was actually the Red Raiders’ first 2015 commit. Texas Tech running backs coach Mike Jinks actually discovered Dauphine back in January when looking for a few other prospects around the Port Arthur area, and he loved what Corey Dauphine he saw from the big tailback and extend-

ed an offer.

A big bruiser, Dauphine is also deceptively fast, often surprising defenders with his speed.

He can run through tacklers or run around them, and he’s a versatile player out of the

backfield. The strangest part is that Dauphine actually splits time at running back with 2016 prospect Kameron Martin, who many feel may be the best running back in the country for the next recruiting cycle. Some teams have missed Dauphine as a result, and he’s been flying under the radar early on in his recruitment. He committed to Tech over offers from TCU, Washington State, Utah and others.

Frisco (Texas) Centennial offensive tackle Trace Ellison (6-6, 285) committed to Tech in late March while on an unofficial visit to Lubbock. His mother actually worked at a law firm with Chancellor Kent Hance in the past, and that was how the initial connection was made with the Tech coaching staff.

Ellison fits offensive line coach Lee Hays’ prospect mold to a tee (Coach Hays is pictured below). He has a great frame, room to add weight, has a mean streak, a great motor, and is a vicious run blocker. He committed to Tech over offers from Arkansas State and Illinois.

Michael Strong

The Red Raiders have already gotten off to a hot start with their 2015 recruiting class.

At the top of the list are Stephenville four-star quarterback Jarrett Stidham and Honolulu, Hawaii native and four-star defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, the younger brother of Sam and V.J. Fehoko. Both players are bell cows for their respective sides of the ball and should help the Red Raiders land some top recruits in this recruiting cycle.

Stidham (6-2, 183), the top-ranked quarterback in Texas according to Rivals. com, decided to pull the trigger and commit to Tech in early March (see the complete story in this issue of Red Raider Jarrett Stidham Sports magazine).

Stidham is the most highly-regarded offensive player that the Red Raiders have landed in over two decades, and he very well could be the program’s highest-ranked quarterback commit ever.

Stidham has a big arm, great pocket awareness, and is very savvy when it comes to sensing pocket pressure. He’s also a talented runner, evidenced by the 975 yards he ran for last season, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. He threw for 2,687 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Stidham will be the backbone of Texas Tech’s 2015 recruiting class. He committed to Tech over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ole Miss, Baylor, Oregon, Tennessee, Ohio State, Miami and dozens of others.

Fehoko (6-3, 295) visited Lubbock for an entire week before the spring game and decided to commit to the Red Raiders before

Texas City (Texas) inside linebacker

college offensive linemen in the country. The

up as a prospect by his nickname: the Hit-

mer Riverside coach and current Texas Tech

D’Vonta Hinton (5-9, 204) can be summed man. While undersized at only 5-foot-9, Hinton

packs a wallop as a defender, and his football

tackle, who has a great relationship with for-

special teams coach Darrin Chiaverinni, was

influenced by the

intelligence as a linebacker is through the roof.

commitment of Jar-

He takes no false steps, and he’s excellent in

rett Stidham. Lafa-

both run and pass coverage. He committed

ele is a mauler, and

to Tech over offers from Maryland, Louisiana

he’s got a big mean

Tech, Texas State, and UTSA among others.

streak behind it. He

Riverside (Calif.) Riverside C.C. offensive

chose to commit

tackle Lio Lafaele is expected to be the lone JUCO offensive linemen in the 2015 class for

the Red Raiders. He’s a good one to have as many consider him to be one of the top junior

to Tech over offers

Lio Lafaele

from

TOP RECRUITING NEWS 24 / 7 / 365

Washington

State and Ole Miss.

redraidersports.com Michael Strong

RedRaiderSports.com

21

BASKETBALL RECRUITING

Tubby Smith and his coaching staff went on the recruiting trail and

Jamison (6-9, 260) actually played mi-

pulled in one of the most impressive recruiting classes in more than a de-

nor league baseball for the Texas Rangers

cade for the Texas Tech basketball team. Many, if not all, of the program’s

for four years before deciding to head back

2014 signees will be expected to contribute right away, and most chose

to college and give basketball a try. He aver-

the Red Raiders over offers from other Power Five programs.

aged 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks

Tech added two early period signees in Tampa (Fla.) Berkley Prep

per game last season at Missouri State-West

guard Justin Gray and Plano (Texas) Plano East forward Zach Smith,

Plains. Smith expects Jamison, along with

but Smith’s staff did most of their work in the second half of the cycle

Odiase, to be a force in the paint for the Red

and signed four prospects in the late period: Richardson (Texas) Berkner

Justin Jamison

point guard Keenan Evans, Missouri State-West Plains JUCO power for-

Raiders. He chose Texas Tech over offers from Florida State, Pitt, SMU, Oregon and others.

ward Justin Jamison, Delray Beach (Fla.) Elev8 Sports Academy power forward Norense Odiase and Missouri State-West Plains JUCO guard

Devaugntah Williams.

Plains, led his team in scoring and earned All-Region honors in each of

These six prospects add size under the basket to replace Jay Crock-

the last two seasons. He averaged 17.8 points and 3.7 assists per game

ett, Kadeer Tapsoba, Dejan Kravic and Jor-

in 2013-14 and could very well be the scoring threat that the Red Raid-

dan Tolbert. This class should also add much

ers desperately needed during their own 2013-14 campaign. He chose

needed scoring options at guard in Evans,

Texas Tech over offers from Arkansas, Iowa, Kent State, Loyola-Chicago

Gray and Williams.

and others.

Evans (6-3, 175) originally planned on

signing with the Red Raiders in the early period, but he decided to put things off in order to make sure that he made the right decision.

Keenan Evans

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard was named to the TABC All-State team and helped Berkner make it to the Region II semifinals. He aver-

aged 21 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6 assists per game as a senior. Evans chose Texas Tech over offers from Kansas State, Texas, West Virginia, Colorado, St. Louis and others.

Odiase (6-9, 265) spent the past season

playing in Florida but is actually a Texas native and played high school ball at Fort Worth’s North Crowley High School. He averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game last year at Elev8 Academy. Odiase chose the Red Raiders over offers from TCU, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tulane and Old Dominion.

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Norense Odiase

Norvelle Kennedy

Williams (6-3, 200), Jamison’s teammate at Missouri State-West

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RECRUITING Norvelle Kennedy

The Lady Raiders added four prospects to Can-

di Whitaker’s young program this spring, and all four came from the junior college ranks. These prospects should provide an immediate boost of experience

and athleticism to a Lady Raider team looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2013-14 season.

Highland

munity

College

Com-

(Kan-

sas) point guard Ryann

Bowser was named a

second-team NJCAA Di-

vision II All-American this

Ryann Bowser

past season. She averaged 9.6 points, 3.5 as-

sists, and 4.2 rebounds

per game. She chose Tech over Baylor and Illinois State.

Chipola

(Fla.)

guard

College Rayven

Brooks, a JUCO AllAmerican, originally com-

mitted to Miami (Fla.) before ultimately deciding

on the Lady Raiders. She

averaged 15 points, 8 re-

bounds and 2.7 assists per game last season.

Pratt College

Community

(Kan.)

Rayven Brooks

guard

Tatiana Grant was named a first-team NJCAA AllAmerican this past season after averaging 27.4

points per game and finishing as the second-leading scorer in all of NJCAA Division I. The Wisconsin native chose to attend Tech over Kansas State.

Santa Fe College (Fla.) center Jocelyn Mousty

was the top-ranked junior college center by All Star

Girls Report. She also averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this past season. Mousty opted for Tech over Oklahoma, East Carolina and Florida.

RedRaiderSports.com

23

Norvelle Kennedy

The Texas Tech softball team took two of three from Iowa State to close out the home portion of its schedule, giving the Red Raiders three straight Big 12 series wins for the first time since the league moved to three-game sets in 2012. The Red Raiders’ win over Iowa State in the series finale was win No. 300 for head coach Shanon Hays.

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Norvelle Kennedy

Junior All-American and Philadelphia native Cierra White highlighted Texas Tech’s performance at the 120th Penn Relays. The reigning Big 12 champion and school record holder finished first overall in the preliminaries of the college women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 11.48 seconds and finished third in the finals with a 11.46 second performance.

“It means a lot,” White said after the race. “It makes me proud. I felt a lot more confident with so much support here. I was just happy to be around family and friends.”

RedRaiderSports.com

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TTU Media

Led by junior Clement Sordet, the Texas Tech men’s golf team ended an improbable run at the Big 12 Championship with the program’s highest finish in school history. The Red Raiders placed second -trailing Texas by three strokes -- and were led by Sorbet’s three-over, 291.

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RedRaiderSports.com

Michael Strong

For the third-straight season, the Texas Tech women’s tennis team advanced to the finals of the Big 12 Championship but came up just short of winning a title. No. 14 Baylor took the doubles points and cruised to three straight-set singles wins to defeat the Lady Raiders 4-0.

“We didn’t take a step forward this year and that is obviously disappointing, but we came out of this with a really good win and let’s see what we can do in the NCAA Tournament,” said coach Todd Petty afterward.

RedRaiderSports.com

27

Logan Hawk

The Red Raiders sit atop the Big 12 in several offensive categories, including triples (below, senior Jake Barrios slides in safely for his lone three bagger of the season).

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RedRaiderSports.com

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Logan Hawk

HE

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ADED FOR HOME

As Tim Tadlock’s Texas Tech baseball squad heads into the final weeks of the regular season, his team has the opportunity to do something that no other Red Raider team has done in a decade: play in the postseason.

The Red Raiders have crossed the 30-win mark for the first time since 2011, a milestone only reached once in the last seven seasons on the South Plains. It’s been a fantastic turnaround for Texas Tech baseball, and fans are more enthusiastic about the program than they have been in quite a long time. They’re also getting production from two key players that returned less from injuries less than a month ago.

Sophomore outfielder Tyler Neslony, who was Tech’s hottest hitter through the team’s first six games, missed a month after having the hamate bone in his right wrist removed. The Red Raiders went 14-6 during his absence, and they held on enough to still have a chance at a regional bid.

Once Neslony was back in the lineup in late March, things soon started clicking again for the Red Raider offense. His move from sixth to third in the lineup really helped the Corpus Christi native get going, too. The outfielder has stayed hot offensively and he’ll be a key cog for Tech should they find themselves in the postseason.

Shortstop Tim Proudfoot was another player who missed a month long stretch, and his defensive prowess and ability at the plate will certainly be a must for the Red Raiders to truly make some noise in the postseason.

Proudfoot has always been solid with the leather but he’s also helped the team with his bat. Paired with Bryant Bur-

leson at second, Tech can stack up with any team in the country up the middle.

With both Neslony and Proudfoot back where they belong, Tech could make a legitimate run to end the season and secure a spot in the postseason.

The Red Raiders head into the final portion of the campaign with a top 10 RPI , a ranking that should impress the NCAA selection committee.

It won’t be an easy road, however, as the team has two big conference series remaining before the Big 12 Championship gets underway in Oklahoma City.

Tech will close out Big 12 action with two series against teams currently sitting behind the Red Raiders in the league standings. First up is a trip to Lawrence to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. KU was the talk of the league early, with an impressive series win on the road against Texas on their resume. But since that first weekend the Jayhawks have cooled and fallen back toward preseason expectations.

After Lawrence, Tech will take a week off for finals before hitting the diamond for a series against West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have struggled so far this season and have spent the majority of the conference race near the bottom of the league standings.

Barring an epic collapse, the Red Raiders should return to the postseason for the first time since 2004. If things break the right way, Texas Tech could be in a position to secure its first regular season Big 12 Championship since 1997 and/or host a regional for the first time in program history.

It should be a fun May to watch.n RedRaiderSports.com

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State Farm Ad

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RedRaiderSports.com

Norvelle Kennedy

Sophomore Eric Gutierrez has played a key role in Texas Tech’s resurgence on the baseball diamond this year. His two home runs in a Sunday run-rule rout of Oklahoma made him the first Red Raider in four years to leave the yard twice in a single game. Following his performance against the Sooners -- for which he was named Big 12 Player of the Week -- Gutierrez led the Big 12 in RBI, home runs, total bases and slugging percentage and was in the top five of several other offensive categories.

RedRaiderSports.com

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Michael Strong Norvelle Kennedy

COMPLIANCE CORNER Amateurism

All Texas Tech student-athletes are required to be amateur athletes in order to compete on behalf of the institution. A student-athlete becomes a professional athlete, and thus ineligible to compete on behalf of Texas Tech, if he or she:

•

•

•

•

•

•

Is paid (in any form) or accepts the promise of pay for participating in an athletics contest; Signs a professional sports contract or verbally commits to an agreement with an agent or professional sports organization; Requests that their name be placed on a professional league’s draft list; Uses athletic skills for pay in any form (e.g., television commecials, demonstrations); Competes on a professional athletics team; or Participates on an amateur sports team and receives, directly or indirectly, any salary, incentive payment, award, gratuity, educational expenses or expense allowance (other than actual and necessary expenses for travel, room and board, or expenses related to practice or competition).

Every month, the Texas Tech compliance staff will provide important information regarding issues involving Red Raider athletics. n

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