Notebook: Looking back at Texas Tech's past JUCO signees

Rivals.com's JUCO Top 100 rankings were updated this week, with three Texas Tech commitments making the cut. New signees [db]Derrick Willies[/db] and [db]DeQuan Bowman[/db] checked in at Nos. 22 and 62 respectively with other JUCO prospect [db]Mychealon Thomas[/db] checking in at No. 54.

The Red Raiders have quite the history of signing heralded JUCO prospects in the Rivals.com era. Below is a look at all of the former JUCO Top 100 prospects that have signed with Texas Tech:

DE Scott Smith (No. 4 in 2010)

Smith was quite the prospect coming out of Butler C.C. in 2010. Smith, ranked as the No.4 JUCO player and a four-star prospect, chose the Red Raiders over offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Louisville, South Florida, and UCLA. The 6-foot-7 Smith was suspended 12 games for off-the-field issues but still managed 51 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles in his 12-game Tech career.

DE Leon Mackey (No. 7 in 2011)

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Mackey chose Texas Tech on signing day over offers from Alabama, Baylor, Houston, Mississippi, Mississippi State and South Carolina among others. The four-star Hinds C.C. product never quite lived up to his top billing registering only 34 tackles (6 his senior year), 4 tackles for loss and recording no sacks in 22 games.

WR Robert Johnson (No. 9 in 2004)

To this day, Johnson remains as the only five-star prospect to sign with the Red Raiders in the Rivals-era. Johnson, the nation's No. 1 dual-threat quarterback coming out of JUCO chose the Red Raiders over offers from Fresno State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and UCF. Johnson spent his career as a wide receiver at Texas Tech recording 67 receptions for 951 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2005 and another 89 catches for 871 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006. He was voted Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Second team All-Big 12 after the 2005 season.

OL Ofa Mohetau (No. 10 in 2006)

Mohetau was one of the top prospects out of the junior college ranks back in 2006. The four-star lineman chose Tech over an offer from Florida. The College of the Sequoias offensive guard had a lack-luster Tech career gaining only one letter of experience.

DE Brandon Sesay (No. 11 in 2008)

The four-star recruit was a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school in Georgia in 2006 and again coming out of the College of the Sequoias in 2008. Sesay chose the Red Raiders over offers from California, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, and Tennessee among others. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound strong side defensive end struggled to remain eligible while in Lubbock and only played in 11 games in 2008, his only season at Tech. Sesay finished 2008 with 8 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.

DE McKinner Dixon (No. 15 in 2008)

The four-star prospect signed with the Red Raiders twice, once out of high school and again out of junior college in 2008. The No. 15 ranked Dixon chose Tech over offers from Louisville and TCU. Dixon couldn't make the grades following his freshman season on campus (29 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks, garnering Freshman All-America second team honors) so he transferred to Cisco C.C. for two years. Dixon picked up where he left off for the 2008 season registering 33 tackles, 11 for loss, and 8 sacks. 2008 was his only season as a Red Raider as he was suspended in 2009 for not meeting academic requirements.

WR Javon Bell (No. 17 in 2012)

The 6-foot speedster came to Texas Tech as one of the top junior college receivers in the country. Bell chose Texas Tech over offers from Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, and Tennessee. Injuries and grades cut Bell's time at Texas Tech short as he only played in four games as a Red Raider recording 17 catches for 269 yards and a touchdown during the 2012 season before a foot injury cut his season short. Bell did not take care of business in the classroom and never saw the field again.

WR Marcus Kennard (No. 18 in 2011)

In relation to the ranking, Kennard had a pretty below average Tech career. The 6-foot-4 JUCO All-American signed with the Red Raiders in 2011 over offers from Arkansas, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M. In 20 games Kennard caught 21 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns.

DT Myles Wade (No. 18 in 2009)

Wade committed to the Red Raiders over offers from Nebraska and Washington. The four-star prospect played in 10 games in two years at Texas Tech before transferring after the 2010 season. Wade recorded 8 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack in his two years on campus.

LB Sylvester Brinkley (No. 30 in 2004)

Brinkley, a four-star prospect out of Reedley College in California, was rated as the No. 30 overall junior college prospect. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Brinkley chose Texas Tech over an offer from Missouri. Recorded 12 tackles and an interception in a backup role during 2004. Brinkley had a big senior year recording 48 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble in 2005.

DT Donald Langley (No. 41 in 2010)

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle from Copiah-Lincoln C.C. chose Texas Tech over an offer from Arkansas. The three-star prospect had a productive 22 games as a Red Raider recording 14 tackles in 13 games in 2010 and had 21 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in an injury-shortened 2011.

DB Josh Keys (No. 41 in 2014)

Keys was a highly regarded safety prospect coming out of Gulf Coast C. C. in Mississippi. The 6-foot-2 safety chose the Red Raiders over offers from 18 other programs including Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M among others. Keys never got the chance to prove his worth on the football field as he never got things straightened out in the classroom. In 4 career games, Keys recorded 14 tackles and a pass deflection.

WR Marquis Johnson (No. 43 in 2004)

Johnson, a four-star prospect out of Hutchinson C.C., held no other offers according to Rivals but was receiving interest from Missouri, Kansas State, and Texas. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Johnson redshirted in 2004 and appeared in 10 games in 2005 registering 13 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. That was his only season of play for the Red Raiders.

DB De’Shon Sanders (No. 66 in 2007)

Sanders chose Texas Tech over offers from Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New Mexico State, and Oregon. The three-star safety prospect redshirted his first year on campus and then made an appearance in all 13 games for the 2008 season. Sanders recorded 6 tackles in limited action. The 6-foot-2 safety was then kicked off the team for drug related arrest charges following the 2008 season.

OL Dominique Robertson (No. 72 in 2014)

Robertson was a highly sought after offensive tackle during the 2014 cycle choosing the Red Raiders over offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Fresno State, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Washington State, and West Virginia. Robertson originally committed to Kansas State just a few weeks before signing day only to flip his commitment to Texas Tech a week later. Robertson saw little action at Texas Tech and was kicked off the team towards the end of the 2014 season.

RB Johnnie Mack (No. 74 in 2002)

The 5-foot-7 four-star speedster committed to the Red Raiders over an offer from West Virginia. Mack redshirted his first year on campus and then went on to play in 25 games over the next two years recording 635 yards rushing and 419 yards receiving with 13 total touchdowns. He also returned 43 kicks for 955 yards in his two-year career.

DT Keland McElrath (No. 79 in 2014)

McElrath was the highest rated of the four junior college defensive line commits for the 2014 class. McElrath chose Texas Tech over offers from Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Western Kentucky. The No. 79 junior college prospect has played in 15 games at Tech missing most of the games due to injury. McElrath has accumulated 53 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack in his two-year career.

DE Broderick Marshall (No. 83 in 2008)

The three-star prospect originally committed to the Red Raiders in 2006 but had to go the junior college route for two years at Tyler J.C. Marshall had no other offers coming out of JUCO. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound prospect transferred from Tech before ever completing a year of eligibility.

DB Dorian Crawford (No. 87 in 2013)

Crawford was rated as a three-star prospect coming out of Mt. San Antonio in California. Crawford chose Texas Tech over 12 other offers including California, Louisiana Tech, San Diego State, Texas State, Toledo, and Utah among others. Crawford played in only 4 career games at Tech exhausting his eligibility last year. He made 8 career tackles.

RB Tevin Bush, New Orleans (La.) Landry-Walker -- The 5-foot-6 speedster recently put Texas Tech in his top-three list of schools. Bush had a strong relationship with former defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis but is still very much interested in the Red Raiders because of the coaches and the offense.

"They were my very first offer before my junior year, so they were going to always receive love from me. I also love their offense and how they use their smaller players. I would play all over the field for them, running back, slot receiver, as well as kick and punt returner. I can do it all and they know how to get the ball to me."

TCU had six early enrollee make things official this past week with defensive end Mat Boesen, offensive lineman Chris Gaynor, linebacker Tyree Horton, wide receiver Taj Williams and high school prospects Sewo Olonilua and Brennen Wooten. The Horned Frogs also added a commit from Pima C.C. defensive back Markell Simmons.

Oklahoma State also officially added two early enrollees from the junior college ranks as well. Defensive back Malik Kearse and offensive lineman Larry Williams. The Cowboys also picked up commit No. 18 from Minnesota offensive lineman Matt Kegel.

Oklahoma added one early enrollee in Butler C.C. offensive lineman Bennett Powers. The Sooners also added two big commits in Washington D.C. defensive back Parnell Motley and highly coveted Rivals250 defensive tackle Chris Daniels.

Two junior college and two high school prospects signed their letters of intent to play for the Kansas State Wildcats last week. The two JCs include offensive lineman Abdul Beecham and wide receiver Byron Pringle. The other two prospects include Skylar Thompson and Corey Sutton.

Three out of Kansas' 10 commits will be enrolling early for the spring semester including defensive tackles DeeIsaac Davis and Isi Holani along with wide receiver Stephan Robinson.

The Iowa State Cyclones had six early enrollees sign letters of intent, all from the junior college ranks. Defensive backs Thaddeus Daniels and D'Andre Payne, offensive linemen Karson Green and Oge Udeogu, along with quarterback Zeb Noland and tight end Cliff Fernandez.

The Baylor Bears signed four early enrollees, two junior college and two high school. JUCO prospects Branton Autry and Jeremy Faulk signed with the Bears. Tren'Davian Dickson and Zach Smith also made things official and will forego their final semester of high school to enroll early.