Recruiting junior college player is always a bit of a risky proposition. The downside is a player usually has only two or three years to learn the systems and get acclimated to the speed of the game at the division one level. By the time they have all that down, it's time for graduation.
On the flip side, junior college players may be more ready to contribute immediately when they step onto campus and can make an impact right away rather than having to wait for a freshman to fully develop and prepare their body for the college grind.
That being said, it appears Texas Tech coach, Tommy Tuberville, has decided to roll the dice with more junior college players than he has in the past. Over the past five days, Tech has received seven verbal commitments from junior college players. Six of those commits come from two junior colleges; Riverside C.C. in Riverside, CA and Gulf Coast C.C. in Perkinston, MS.
| Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | School |
| Lee Adams | DE | 6'3" | 265 | Riverside CC |
| Javon Bell | WR | 6'0" | 175 | Gulf Coast CC |
| Rashad Fortenberry | OL | 6'5" | 285 | Gulf Coast CC |
| Sadale Foster | WR | 5'8" | 180 | Riverside CC |
| Chris Payne | DB | 5'11" | 191 | Gulf Coast CC |
| Will Smith | LB | 6'3" | 220 | Riverside CC |
| Austin Stewart | DB | 6'2" | 200 | Pierce CC |
Texas Tech is coming off a 5-7 season, their first losing season as a member of the Big 12, and gave up nearly 40 points a game on defense so there are no doubt immediate holes to fill. The Red Raiders are also in need of more quality depth as they've found out the hard way when they were hit hard with the injury bug in each of the past two seasons.
A big positive among Tech's current crop of junior college commits, all plan to enroll during the semester break which means they'll be able to participate in spring football, another factor that helps immensely in their ability to contribute this fall.
Tuberville brought in three junior college recruits in the 2010 class - DT Dennell Wesley, WR Marcus Kennard, and DE Len Mackey - and all three saw significant playing time this past season.
Building around junior college transfers is never the ideal route to go, but done in moderation, it can help turn around the program faster than you'd expect if you choose them carefully.
If you need any proof of that, just look at what Bill Snyder has done at Kansas State who has made a living off supplementing his roster with talent from the junior college ranks. That's not saying Tuberville will start recruiting heavy doses of junior college players on a regular basis, but it can surely help while Tech continues to develop its talent in their freshman classes.
