Deaton knew he was going to end up a Red Raider
There are times when we need to sit down and contemplate decisions, and there are others when we know exactly what we want to do without much thought. Our hearts are already set on something before we even decide.
Such was the case with Frisco (Texas) offensive lineman Dawson Deaton, who pulled the trigger and committed to Texas Tech on Saturday night, becoming the third O-line commit for the Red Raiders in the 2017 class.
Deaton, who is ranked as the number 15 guard in the class and number 74 player in the state of Texas, picked up an offer from Tech a few months ago, and seeing as he grew up in a family full of Red Raiders, it was simply a matter of time before he pledged himself to the red and black.
"They were my first offer, and ever since I really got that offer, I've known that Tech is where I want to be. My whole family has gone there, and every time I've visited, it's felt like home."
The Frisco lineman is no stranger to Lubbock, as he's grown up going to football games at Jones Stadium even before the recruiting process began. He has made a number of visits as a prospect in the last year, including one on an unofficial back on January 23rd when the vast majority of the Tech 2016 class was in town on their official before signing day.
Deaton loves what Lubbock is about, including the people that inhabit it.
"I really just like the campus and it being in a small town. It's a college town, which is really appealing. The people are really cool there, and the coaching staff is awesome there. It just doesn't get much better."
Offensive line coach Lee Hays was one of the first coaches to extend an offer to Deaton, and that's something that means a whole lot to the DFW native.
"Coach Hays is an awesome guy. It really means a lot, a recruit to coach connection. That was the first coach to believe in me, give me that scholarship, and that's a connection that you don't really feel that way about any other coach. He's just a real guy. He's really funny, knows what he's doing on the offensive line, and he's a great guy.
Deaton isn't the only Frisco prospect to be committed to Texas Tech, however. Teammate, fellow offensive lineman, and RIvals100 prospect Jack Anderson has been the flagship commit for Tech's 2017 class so far. And while he may not have made his decision to become a Red Raider because Anderson is his best friend, Deaton is certainly excited to get a chance to line up next to him once again at the collegiate level.
"Definitely having your best friend going to the same school as you is absolutely awesome," he said. "We push each other even here in high school to get better. We have good chemistry on the field, and I know that will continue in college. We'll continue to push each other to be the best players that we can be."
And while it is still pretty early on in the 2017 recruiting cycle, Deaton feels that he's done with the process already. He's set on Tech.
"No, I'm not visiting anywhere else or talking to any other coaches. My plans are to go to Lubbock (for a spring ball visit) and for the spring game. That's about it."
And with his commitment in the books, he's just relieved to be done with it.
"It's just awesome. It's relieving to not have to talk to any more coaches, not to have to waste their time or waste my time, just get it all over with, and know that I'm a Red Raider."
Deaton committed to Texas Tech on Saturday over offers from Cal, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Virginia, Kansas, and others.