Texas Tech can never have enough wide receivers. In a pretty predictable commitment, WR Treveon Johnson has committed to Texas Tech.

He’s a class of 2018 WR/DB that projects to WR at the next level. He’s only a junior, but already has some solid highlight tape out there.

He’s an incredibly physical outside threat at WR. He’s only a sophomore in his highlight tape, but he’s still outmuscling defensive backs for deep balls and running over people in the short game. He has the physicality that he’ll need to survive in the Big 12 as an outside WR, he just needs to prove consistency after he sat out his entire freshman year with an injury.

In 2015 Johnson caught 28 passes for 610 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed 19 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a force all over the field. If I had to pick a playstyle comparison, I’d say he plays similar to Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals.

He’s our first commitment in 2018, and it looks like he’ll be a good one.

For most college football teams the quarterback is the leader, both on and off the field. They get the most attention and the most scrutiny, deserved or undeserved. Their success usually translates into team success.

For the 2016 season, I think we can all agree that this is Patrick Mahomes’ team. He is the leader, both in the huddle and on the sideline, for these Red Raiders. With the experience he has, his teammates listen to him and follow him wherever he takes us. He has two years left (assuming he comes back for his senior year). That’s when our future leader will step right in, making sure we don’t miss a beat.

I love the Elite 11. With the 2016 series recently being released (and binge-watching the this weekend), it reminded me of last year’s episodes. In the first episode, the first invitee profiled was Jett Duffey.

If you didn’t see it, check it out here. Watch the whole thing because it is amazing, or start at 3:50 to skip to Jett’s piece.

[embedded content]

I would go to war with that guy. He’s obviously an incredibly talented quarterback, but the competitive nature and work ethic he has is going transform him into the future leader of Texas Tech football. Add those characteristics with the weight he has already put on with Coach Whitt and the skills he’s learning with Coach Kingsbury and we have a quarterback that is going to follow Mahomes nicely.

Jett is a baller. And the fact that Kliff loves him only instills more confidence. I am 100 percent certain there isn’t a better evaluator of QB talent than Kliff Kingsbury.

Patrick Mahomes had one power five offer. Jett Duffey had one power five offer. Good with me.

Euless Trinity cornerback John Davis announced via Twitter tonight that he is committing to Texas Tech as part of their 2017 recruiting class.

With Deeply Thinking This Through I Am Blessed To Say That I Have Committed to Texas Tech University! #GunsUp17 ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/whRnmXwlbM

— John Davis (@jdwavy) August 2, 2016

Davis is listed at 6'1", which surely excites David Gibbs who will welcome more height in the defensive backfield to compete with taller receivers in the Big 12. As a three star recruit, Davis also held offers from Minnesota, Utah, and Kansas State among others.

Of the 13 recruits committed to Texas Tech for 2017, Davis is the fourth defensive back, highlighting an emphasis from the coaching staff to improve the defensive backfield. From his highlight tape on Hudl, it appears one of his strengths is being able to tackle in the open field, which could be an asset in helping Texas Tech improve their run defense beyond just bolstering the defensive line.

There's many college football debates going on including banning kickoffs, player discipline, satellite camps, and Big 12 expansion. But I believe there is one more that at least Texas Tech should start having. The following statement is going to seem way outside the box crazy to some and possibly genius to others. Texas Tech should consider getting rid of punting and go for it on 4th down! This isn't necessarily a new conversation but it's one that could seriously be relevant to Tech and here are some reasons why:

1. Texas Tech's Defense

As of late Texas Tech's defense has been just plain awful. There's simply no way of denying it because the numbers don't lie. Last year Tech ranked 126th in total defense. Just in case you were wandering that's really bad and nearly the absolute worst in college football, but thanks to Kansas, Tech was only 2nd to last in total defense. So take that Kansas! The reason this matters is because if Tech's defense is as bad as it has been then why not try to keep them off the field as much as possible? Last year Tech gave up 44 points per game, which was 124th in the nation. Call me crazy but if we're giving up this many points per game then it seems logical to just risk going for it on 4th down because worst case scenario the opposing team scores a touchdown which they were likely to do anyways!

Also a positive point from a defensive perspective is that Tech was ranked in the top 25 in terms of defensive takeaways. Tech plays aggressive style defense, which is also a huge benefit to going for it on 4th down because even if Tech does fail then there's still a decent possibility the defense comes up with a turnover.

Another part of the defense point is that if Tech's defense were to become incredibly great then it would also apply because then there's really not a good chance of the opposing team scoring period. Just saying!

2. Texas Tech's Offense

Now clearly this doesn't work without a crazy good offense. Thankfully Tech has one of those that is arguably the best. Last year Tech was 2nd in the nation in scoring offense with 45 points per game. Tech's fast-paced tempo is another perk because it allows the offense to control the tempo on the field. This could definitely be the case given the no-punt because it's either likely to give the opposing team a short field to work with or Tech will have a chance to continue their drive, thus wearing out the defense. Last year Tech converted about 48 percent of their 4th down conversions (11 for 23). Not necessarily great, but definitely not bad either. The reason there were only 23 attempts is because Tech was also the best 3rd down offense in the nation. If this trend can continue then the Red Raider offense is fully capable of carrying the load a little more and staying on the field one more down.

3. Punt Return Defense

This isn't a stat that most people look at or let alone care about, but it adds to my argument. Last year Tech was ranked 108th in punt return defense allowing nearly 13 yards every punt, which isn't good. Once again Tech can prevent a bad punt return defense from taking the field by keeping their great offense on the field.

4. Game Psychology

It's safe to say that any team that is frequently attempting 4th down conversions is going to impact an opposing team in a psychological way. Especially against a Texas Tech offense that already puts extreme stress on any defense. Imagine stopping Texas Tech on 3rd down realizing that you're pretty tired and grateful for the drive to be over, but then you realize that Patrick Mahomes is lining up for another play? Yeah it'd be a little mentally disturbing.

The argument has been made. There are pros and cons for this style of play and it's really only necessary to ignore the cons and focus on the pros. It may seem crazy and that's because it probably is. It works great in Madden, which could be a correlation. One coach that does pull it off is Kevin Kelley, who never punts and always goes for the onside kick. It worked so well for him that it was banned by the National Federation of High School Association. I don't realistically expect Tech to start attempting 4th down plays every time, but I don't see much wrong with going for it on your own 40 yard line or beyond. Especially when you have an offense as capable as Tech's. It's all about risk and reward and I think the reward in this situation outweigh's the risks. The defense will likely be better in the coming years thanks to Gibbs and the young talent he is developing. So hopefully soon there is no longer a great argument to make for this style of play besides having a spectacular offense.

There is a lot of progressive movement taking place in college football, and it may not be long until attempting plays on 4th down doesn't sound too crazy. But until then, just think about it.

Texas Tech gained its 11th commit for the 2017 class this afternoon.

I've talked to my family and I'm blessed and proud to say that I'm committing to Texas Tech University #WreckEm

— Adrian Frye (@frye_adrian) June 17, 2016

Adrian Frye committed to the Red Raiders after picking up an offer earlier in the day. Texas Tech was his 8th offer and first Power 5 offer. Frye is a defensive back from Houston and attended the Red Raiders camp held there this week. He must have showed out since the coaching staff extended an offer following the camp. See guys, satellite camps are great! Below is a link to Frye's Hudl (embed code isn't working) and I'll get a full breakdown on him in this coming week's Recruiting Roundup.

Check out Adrian Frye's Hudl here.

2.  Texas Tech @ TCU 10/29

I am super pumped for this game because of what has happened the past two years. In 2014 we were all turning off our TVs by the end of the 3rd quarter. In 2015 we saw one of the most miraculous endings in program history and left the Jones with our hearts broken.

Tech and TCU have only met 58 times with Tech having a 30-25-3 advantage. The rivalry has been renewed since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 Conference in 2012. Since then, the series is even at 2-2. Three of those four games were decided by ten points or less.

Last year the Horned Frogs went 10-2 in the regular season and finished with a victory in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon 47-41. In that game TCU overcame a 31-0 deficit at halftime to win. The comeback tied the largest one in bowl game history first done by, guess who...Texas Tech in the 2006 Insight Bowl.

TCU's offense last season was ranked 6th in the nation. Two spots below Tech. The Horned Frogs were 9th in passing and 24th in rushing. Their defense was not great last year as they were 65th in total defense.

TCU has a lot of talent to replace on offense. The unstoppable Big 12 duo of QB Trevone Boykin and receiver Josh Doctson is gone along with Kolby Listenbee and RB Aaron Green. They also lost FS Derrick Kindred as well as offensive linemen Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Joey Hunt. On top of all that, the man who led the comeback in the bowl game, QB Bram Kohlhausen, is gone too.

Who will fill these shoes? At QB the choice seems to be Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill. Kyle Hicks, the third-leading rusher on the team last year, returns at RB. Hicks only had 262 yards rushing and scored 3 touchdowns. Hicks may be the starter, but it remains to be seen. The biggest offensive weapon TCU has coming back is KaVontae Turpin, who was the team's second-leading receiver in 2015. Turpin finished with 649 yards and 8 touchdowns for the season.

I love Tech's chances in this game because TCU looks like they have taken a step back. Tech is returning more talent on offense than TCU, especially at receiver and running back. TCU's defense should still be respectable since they only lost one player to the NFL. I think TCU's defense will be better than Tech's in this game but I believe Tech's offense will be better than TCU's. Hill will put up solid numbers against Tech's lowly defense but, as I have mentioned before, I got to give Patrick Mahomes the edge. Mahomes has played in the same system for two years while Hill has not. Mahomes has also put up better stats than Hill. In his college career Hill has only passed for 2,832 yards with 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Mahomes threw for more than 5,000 in 2015.

It will be hard for Tech going on the road to the same place they gave up 82 points in 2014, but this a different team. Tech is fueled by the last two years and will come out with revenge on their minds. If their defense comes to play and their offense can start hot, I believe Tech can pull away from the Horned Frogs by the fourth quarter.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine has been a tradition in the state of Texas for many years. High schoolers rush to the magazine section upon its yearly release, hoping to get a glimpse of their football team. It's not as widely acclaimed in the college ranks, but the information in it is still amazing. Today, the cover page of the prestigious Texas magazine was released, and it features two of our favorite people.

REVEALED: The 2016 summer edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football, featuring @TTUKingsbury and @PatrickMahomes5! pic.twitter.com/jqmqBvXQxJ

— TexasFootball .com (@dctf) June 15, 2016

While we're still going to have to wait and see about how we're ranked in the magazine itself, having a cover all to ourselves is a big honor. Greg Tepper, Managing Editor of DCTF, wanted the photo to have a modern spin on an old classic.

1: I’ve long wanted to recreate the 1963 cover of DCTF. A modern spin on a classic. Really pleased with the cover. pic.twitter.com/nm6pvib3F8

— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) June 15, 2016

Being implicitly compared to Darryl Royal is a big honor indeed.

Former record-breaking Texas Tech WR Eric Ward posted on Facebook last night that he was cussed out by the Wichita Falls ISD Athletic Director and Rider High School head coach Marc Bindel. I'll let you read it in full below (WARNING: there is some harsh language included). Ward recently announced he was leaving his position as wide receivers coach at Rider High School to coach at Elgin High School next year.

The full text of Ward's post, which can be found here:

Today, there was an incident which I was publicly humiliated by WFISD Athletic Director Scott Hafley and Rider Head Football Coach Marc Bindel. Due to an issue that was not to my knowledge. There were under 200 kids, parents, and elderly bystanders present on the field for a NFL Flag Regulation game, who also witnessed this act. I was given permission to use the new Rider turf field by Head Coach Marc Bindel via phone conversation at approximately 4:31pm, Today June 13th, I personally asked Bindel for permission to use the turf field during our conversation, Coach Bindel agreed by sharing, "You can use the other end of the turf field while I use the opposite end for 7 on 7." Bindel allowed me to use 45 yards of the 100 yard field for the NFL Flag Football participants, while he coached his Rider football players in 7 on 7 for 2 hours at the opposite end. At approximately 6:54pm I noticed a WFISD branded Suburban pull in and park in the Rider Athletic Parking Lot. To my surprise, Scott Hafley (WFISD Athletic Director) gets out of the Suburban and walks down the sidewalk leading to the turf field where under 200 participants, kids, parents, and elderly were presented. He yells at me "Eric Ward get you fucking ass over here!" I'm in shock and also confused that this is even happening more so that Hafley would address me in such manner in front of under 200 spectators. I respectfully abandoned my referee duties and cluelessly hustled over to meet Scott at the track and sidewalk intersection. At this time Coach Bindel had walked over from the field as well. Scott Hafley begins yelling, "get these fucking kids off of my field now!," repeatedly. I responded, "Coach please let me explain" Scott then says " this is a fucking 1.2 million dollar field, get these fucking kids off now, I don't want to hear another word from you or anything you have to say, get these fucking kids off of my 1.2 million dollar field." The 200 witnesses paused in awe and disbelief as to what just happened. I'm lost for words myself because Coach Bindel did not bother to tell the truth regarding the permission he granted prior to using the field. Instead, Marc Bindel denied every ounce of truth but did mention "I don't think I said you can use it, I thought I said maybe the field isn't ready." But, why would I use only half of the field and you use the other half simultaneously when he was hosting his players 7 on 7? Assuring that I had Bindel's permission. So Bindel allowed me to get humiliated in front of 200 people by Scott Hafley who did not bother to professionally address the misunderstanding on behalf of Marc Bindel appropriately and not in front of kids. Personally, my feelings are tarnished and I am very humiliated, I cannot believe I got cursed out and talked to like a peasant in front of 200 people. Is this what I get for pouring my heart into the kids in our community to keep them active and out of harms way through the summer? Is this the thanks I get for giving back. I am so humiliated that this happened to me. For the 200 witnesses that saw this occur, you know how traumatizing Hafley's verbally abusive rant was. I am sorry for the parents and children who had to listen to such words like "get your ass over here now" "shut this shit down now," and "get these kids off of my fucking 1.2 million dollar field," from Scott Hafley. I apologize to the elderly who just wanted to watch their young family members enjoy some flag football instead of witnessing the verbally abusive rant and defamation of humiliation that took place. Not to mention, Coach Bindel shared that he never liked me because he felt that I "Never gave him 110% respect as the Head Football Coach at Rider." Excuse me, I turned my cleats in to change lives, not validate insecurities.

This is truly a weird story. I'm not sure I've ever heard anything like it before. I remember Ward as not just an outstanding football player on the field, but a well-spoken and fantastic representative of Texas Tech off the field as well. I would be shocked if he knowingly did something wrong in this situation, but there are two sides to every story.

As for the allegation that Ward never gave 110%, again, the exact opposite was true during his time as a Red Raider. I seem to remember him being praised by his coaches as a guy who was always hustling. I even remember after receiving a few holding calls, fans seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt since he was at least working his tail off trying his best to make an impact even when he didn't have the ball.

Incoming four-star WR T.J. Vasher played at Rider High School and was coached by Eric Ward last season. We will look for a response from Rider High School and/or Wichita Falls ISD and update the story if needed.

OL recruiting will be huge for the Red Raiders over this summer, as most of our big boys up front are nearing their graduation dates. Yesterday, Texas Tech snagged two more linemen, swelling the number of OL taken in this class to 6.

Guns Up! ⚫️ ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/Dqr4y7L1GQ

— Will Farrar (@farrar3790) June 10, 2016

Staying Home #GunsUp ☝ ️ pic.twitter.com/WNBnn9zfq7

— Jared Hocker (@Jared_Hocker) June 10, 2016

The two commits make this 4 OL commits in 3 days for Texas Tech. These two were a bit different, as they were both heavily considering other schools. Hocker was committed to David Beaty at Kansas, and according to Burnt Orange Nation, Farrar was long considered a Longhorn lean.

According to 24/7's recruiting rankings, Hocker is a 3-star prospect, the 120th OT in the Nation, and 179th recruit in Texas. Farrar is the 22nd OG in the nation, and 65th recruit in Texas.

This brings Texas Tech to 6 OL in this recruiting class. We don't know whether this will make someone decommit for sure or not, but at this point it would be likely.

3. Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma 10/22

This week also features one of Tech's biggest rivals. Tech will look to take down the defending Big 12 Conference champions at the Jones in what should be a compelling matchup. Not to mention this is the first time a former Tech QB will start against them at his old stomping grounds.

Last year the Oklahoma Sooners went 11-1 in the regular season, won the Big 12 title, and played in the Orange Bowl as part of the College Football Playoffs. Oklahoma was no match for Clemson as they lost 37-17 ending their chances for a National Championship.

The Sooners are losing talent from last year's team. Four players were drafted to the NFL and six signed as undrafted free agents. Receiver Sterling Shepard, DE Charles Tapper, DB Zack Sanchez, and LB Devante Bond were drafted while players such as receiver Durron Neal and LB Eric Striker signed free agent deals.

Despite the loss of some talented playmakers, Oklahoma still has plenty of firepower. Their second-leading receiver from last year Dede Westbrook is returning along with RBs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. Perine ran for over 1,000 yards for the second straight year and has become one of the best backs in the nation. Oh and not to mention Baker Mayfield returns at quarterback.

As far as a team, Oklahoma was 10th in the nation in total offense (18th in passing and 22nd in rushing). Despite their offense being worst than Tech in terms of total offense and passing, Oklahoma's defense was ranked 28th in the country last year. Far better than Tech at 126th. This was a big reason why the Sooners beat Tech so easily last year.

Similar to Tech vs. Baylor, this rivalry has been one-sided in recent years. Oklahoma has won the last four games against Tech by huge scores. Tech's last victory against the Sooners was in 2011. Last year's game was a blowout from the beginning. Mahomes had probably his worst game of the season as he only threw for 233 yards while throwing four interceptions. RBs Perine and Mixon combined for 355 yards on the ground wearing out Tech's porous defense. A powerful running game and a boatload of turnovers led to an easy 63-27 win for OU.

Like Baylor, Oklahoma has a stable of talented running backs and I give them an edge there. I also give an edge to their defense, but not a huge one due to the talent they lost to the NFL. I do give an edge to Tech's passing game. Mahomes was better than Mayfield statistically last year and he has more talent returning at the receiver position than Mayfield.

Like what I said last week, if Tech's defense can slow down Oklahoma's offense just a little, this game could be close. Mahomes and the rest of the offense have to be on point as well. Texas Tech has a great home-field advantage at the Jones and they always seem to play very good teams well at home.

Yesterday was a busy day for the Red Raiders. They picked up two new commits for their 2017 recruiting class, with both being offensive linemen. Casey Verhulst committed in the morning and Dylan Weaver followed it up with a commitment of his own in the evening. Out of the 7 commits Texas Tech has, 4 of those are offensive linemen. Needless to say, whoever the post-Mahomes quarterback is (Jett Duffey, Xavier Martin) they'll be protected in the pocket. These guys will also provide depth at a young position group starting in the 2017 season. Today I'll take a closer look at Verhulst and Weaver and also check out a defensive back I've got a really good feeling about.

Casey Verhulst | 6'6", 280 lbs | Offensive Linemen

Plano East High School (Plano, TX)

24/7  | Rivals | Scout 

Casey Verhulst committed to Texas Tech Tuesday morning, giving the Red Raiders their 6th commit for the 2017 class. Verhulst currently holds 15 offers. Some of the schools Texas Tech was competing with for his services were Colorado, Houston, Kansas St, Purdue, and San Diego St. Verhulst is a solid 3-star across 24/7, Rivals and Scout. He visited Lubbock this past weekend and he must've liked the atmosphere. In his film, he does a great job of keeping his hands inside and drives the defender back on run plays. When it comes to pass blocking, he'll have to adjust to working primarily out of a two-point stance but I'm sure with practice he'll get that down. Verhulst will provide help at a position that needs it moving forward.

Dylan Weaver | 6'6", 270 lbs | Offensive Linemen

Piedra Vista High School (Farmington, NM)

24/7 NR | Rivals NR | Scout NR

Dylan Weaver was Texas Tech's second commit on Tuesday. Weaver hails from New Mexico which isn't typically a recruiting hot bed. The Red Raiders offered Weaver on June 3rd and he must've really liked what he heard from the coaching staff. It appears he'll be making a visit to Lubbock soon as well. As of now, he holds 3 other offers from Georgia St, New Mexico and San Diego St. Weaver comes off of the ball with great force and is seen driving the defender at least 5 yards backwards. His hands are great too, you can see him throwing them forward into the defender helping him get that initial drive off the ball. Like Verhulst, Weaver will help out a lot with the young offensive line.

Adam Beck | 6'2", 185 lbs | Defensive Back

George Ranch High School (Richmond, TX)

24/7  | Rivals | Scout 

I wrote about Beck in April and at that time I had a good feeling about landing the defensive back. A few things have happened since then, Beck committed to Houston on April 10th but then decommitted on June 1st. Texas Tech offered Beck last May and it appears that him and some of the 2017 commits are pretty cool on Twitter. When he decommitted last week I really thought he was about to follow it up with a Texas Tech commitment. Red Raider fans and commits were showing him a ton of love in the Twittersphere. Beck is listed as corner on some sites and safety on others. At 6'2" he has great size at corner to match up with Big 12 receivers but he can also play physical enough in space to be safety. To me he looks like a better fit at safety where he can play in the open field and use instinct to attack the ball. Either way, Texas Tech is in need of secondary help moving forward and Beck would be a great addition.

Things are starting off hot for the Red Raiders as Summer '16 is under way. It seems like commitments come in waves in the offseason so it wouldn't surprise me if Texas Tech lands a few more guys within this week. If not this week, then very soon. VTM will keep you posted with up to the minute recruiting news this summer!

2017 Football Commits

Xavier Martin: Quarterback, Steele High School (Cibolo, TX)

Jack Anderson: Offensive Line, Frisco High School (Frisco, TX)

Dawson Deaton: Offensive Line, Frisco High School (Frisco, TX)

Quincy Addison: Defensive Back, Angleton High School (Angleton, TX)

Bronson Boyd: Wide Receiver, The Oakridge School (Arlington, TX)

Casey Verhulst: Offensive Line, Plano East High School (Plano, TX)

Dylan Weaver: Offensive Line, Piedra Vista High School (Farmington, NM)

Earlier today Casey Verhulst committed to the Red Raiders and now commit number 7 is in.

Officially committed to Texas Tech. See you soon Lubbock... pic.twitter.com/peAQmQCwvb

— Dylan Weaver (@dyl_69) June 7, 2016

Dylan Weaver is a New Mexico native from Piedra Vista High School and held 4 offers up until now. As of now Weaver isn't ranked by the 24/7, Rivals or Scout but I'm sure that'll change. Like Verhulst, Weaver stands around the 6'6" 280 pound mark which would probably land him at the tackle spot at the next level. I'll have a full breakdown on Weaver tomorrow in my Recruiting Roundup.

Texas Tech's 2017 class now sits at 6 after the latest commitment.

I'm coming home. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/M5tP5zex09

— Casey Verhulst. (@CaseyVerhulst) June 7, 2016

Casey Verhulst is an offensive linemen from Plano East High School in Plano, TX. Verhulst is a 3-star prospect on 24/7, Rivals, and Scout. He visited Lubbock this past weekend and the Hub City must have made a big impression on him. The 2017 recruiting class now has 3 offensive linemen that can protect the post-Mahomes QB (Jett Duffey, Xavier Martin?) plus these guys will provide excellent depth to a young position group. I expect Verhulst to put on some more weight and ultimately play tackle. Below is Verhulst's Hudl tape and I'll have a full breakdown on him tomorrow in my Recruiting Roundup.