Hocker commits to the Red Raiders
Texas Tech added commit number eight on Friday afternoon when North Richland Hills (TX) Birdville offensive lineman Jared Hocker decided to wrap things up and commit to the Red Raiders.
“First, I really like Texas Tech. When I went down there a couple months ago, I loved the place. There was nothing bad about it. I love the coaches. I loved Dawson (Deaton) and I loved Jack (Anderson) and all the commits are great dudes. It’s just a great place in general.”
While Texas Tech definitely made a big impression on the 5.7 three-star recruit when he visited in early May, Hocker had just de-committed from Kansas just three days ago. The No. 53 tackle prospect seemingly had a plethora of options in front of him and a summer to continue to gain more interest, so why did Hocker decide to shut things down and commit when he did?
“I pulled the trigger so soon because I just didn’t want to wait anymore. I really liked it up there, there was nothing I didn’t like. It’s so close to home, it has everything I could want, and I feel like we could be one of the best offensive lines in the country, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
“When I was committed to Kansas, I didn’t feel very dead set on them. When I saw Tech it was always in the back of my mind how much I liked Tech over them. I realized it early on this week. After I de-committed, I was just thinking about all my options and what I should do, and I decided on Tech and am sticking with them.”
After picking up two offensive line commits on Tuesday, it is safe to say that the commitment of another OL prospect was probably not on the Tech coaching staff’s radar just a few days later; however, when the six-foot-five, 290-pound tackle called the coaches, they couldn’t have been happier.
“I couldn’t get in contact with Coach Hays, so I called Coach (Eric) Morris the offensive coordinator and then I talked to Coach (Kliff) Kingsbury as well. They were pretty pumped up and were very excited I could tell.”
Hocker joins an already star-studded offensive line class and feels like the 2017 class could be the top class in the nation.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we can be one of the best offensive lines in the country. Just watching their game-time film, I feel like we are all just a bunch of playmakers. There is nothing that we can’t do for them (Tech).”
As mentioned, Hocker had plenty of time ahead of him to continue on the upward recruiting trend, but the Birdville lineman knows Tech is the place he wants to be and is solid to the Red Raiders.
“I’m done with everything,” he said. “I am not considering anyone else.
“Texas Tech in general is just a great place. The coaches, Coach Hays, are coaches that I could see staying there, and I feel like he is someone I could learn a lot from and am excited to play under.”