From Inside the Red Raiders
Texas Tech added offensive line depth with the commitment of Coffeyville (KS) Community College offensive lineman Matt Keeler, who announced his pledge on Monday via Twitter.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound tackle chose the Red Raiders over reported offers from Arizona State, East Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. Keeler will enroll at Texas Tech later this month with five years to play four seasons. The Red Raiders, who inked 10 prized high school recruits during the early signing period, were expected to be heavy players in the transfer and junior college markets again this offseason and so far that has been proven out.
“As we continue to build this roster we’re kind of doing it as a mix of high school signees mostly from the state of Texas, but we’re also adding to our roster transfers, grad transfers, junior college transfers,” said Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells during his National Signing Day press conference.
Speaking of transfers, Texas Tech has added Florida linebacker transfer Jesiah Pierre, NC State cornerback transfer Malik Dunlap and Duke safety transfer Marquis Waters since signing day last month.Wells said they plan to add more at offensive line, defensive line, linebacker and defensive back, and that is exactly what the Red Raiders are doing. Texas Tech signed its two top high school offensive line prospects in Jack Tucker and Jacoby Jackson, but are looking to add older depth to the position which is where Keeler comes in.
Though the Red Raiders failed to sign a defensive back or linebacker in the early period, several impact seniors at those positions have already announced they are taking advantage of the NCAA blanket eligibility waiver allowing them to play again next season. Linebackers Colin Schooler and Riko Jeffers along with cornerback Damarcus Fields and safety Eric Monroe–all starters–have announced publicly they are returning. Schooler and Monroe were both graduate transfers who joined the program this summer and made immediate impacts on the defense.4COMMENTS
Keeler is an Illinois native who prepped for a year at St. Thomas More in Connecticut as a post-grad before going to Coffeyville. The Red Raiders also recruited his younger brother, Ryan Keeler, who signed with Rutgers in December.
