Texas Tech University Athletics
Football Announces 2003 Class
February 05, 2003 | Football
Feb. 5, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Fourteen high school seniors and seven junior college transfers signed the dotted line with plans to enroll at Texas Tech University in August 2003 and play football for the Red Raiders. The signees join two other recruits who enrolled at Tech in January, completing the class of 23 newcomers.
The 2003 class is listed as the 14th best by Max Emfinger Recruiting and is rated among the top 25 by various other recruiting publications and websites. Rivals.com ranks the seven Texas Tech defensive back signees seventh nationally.
"After months of recruiting and a tireless and cohesive effort by our staff, I fell we have signed the best class we have had since I have been here at Texas Tech," Red Raider head coach Mike Leach said. "We are looking forward to the opportunity to coach them."
The 23 players comprising this year's class come from 10 states - Texas (12), California (2), Louisiana (2), Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. DB Jamaal Jackson (Bruce, Miss. / Northwest Mississippi CC) and LB Brock Stratton (San Antonio, Texas / Roosevelt) enrolled at Tech in January.
As listed by position, Texas Tech adds to its roster seven defensive backs, two linebackers, four defensive linemen, a quarterback, two running backs, a tight end, five offensive linemen and a punter.
Of the eight junior college players, two were named JUCO All-Americans - Jackson and OL Daniel Christian (San Francisco, Calif. / CC of San Francisco) - while Jackson was named the 2002 NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Among the 23 players are four who have attended Texas Tech Football camps - QB Phillip Daugherty (Bridgeport, Texas / Bridgeport), OL Ben Griffin (Ennis, Texas / Ennis), P Alex Reyes (Allen, Texas / Allen) and OL Raymond Serres (Humble, Texas / Humble).
Other highlights include:
- Christian is listed as a Five-Star recruit by Max Emfinger Recruiting
- Tech signed six Four-Star recruits - DE Chauncey Clark (Lakeland, Fla. / CC of San Francisco), Daugherty, Jackson, DB Chad Johnson (Shreveport, La. / Evangel Christian), DL Tommie Pratt (San Jose, Calif. / CC of San Francisco) and CB Jabari Smith (Mayer, Ariz. / Arizona Western College)
- Three signees hail from junior college power City College of San Francisco - Clark, Christian and Pratt. The three join former teammate and current Red Raider Johnnie Mack on the Texas Tech squad.
- Nine of the 15 high school signees were named to all-state teams; five played on state championship teams during their high school careers
- Reyes is the first kicker to sign a National Letter of Intent under Leach
- Daugherty was named the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year, while FS Joe Garcia (Clovis, N.M. / Clovis) was named the Gatorade New Mexico Football Player of the Year
CHAUNCEY CLARK
DE, 6-2, 228 / Lakeland, Fla. (CC of San Francisco)
Four-Star recruit (Prep Star and Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 200 ... Top 200 recruit (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... recorded 36 sacks in two seasons, including a school record 21 in 2001 ... also recruited by Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA and USC ... high school and CCSF teammate of current Red Raider Johnnie Mack ... Junior College Coach: George Rush.
DANIEL CHRISTIAN
OL, 6-5, 338 / San Francisco, Calif. (CC of San Francisco)
Five-Star recruit (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com JUCO Top 30 ... 2002 All-California Community College All-America First Team ... 2002 All-California Football Team (JCFootball.com) ... Official College Sports Network (OCSN) JC100 ... JCFootball.com Top 101 ... helped lead CCSF to 9-2 finish in 2002 and national championship in 2001 ... CCSF won 2002 Hawaiian Punch Bowl ... also recruited by Arizona, Temple and Oregon ... joins former CCSF teammate Johnnie Mack on the Red Raider squad ... prepped at Terra Nova High School in San Francisco ... Junior College Coach: George Rush.
PHILLIP DAUGHERTY
QB, 6-3, 205 / Bridgeport, Texas (Bridgeport)
Four-Star recruit (Rivals100.com and Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 200 ... Dallas Morning News District 7-3A Most Valuable Player ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Fab 44 ... Houston Chronicle State Top 100 ... 2002 Texas Class 3A Player of the Year ... 2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 20 quarterback prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 23 quarterback prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... No. 71 overall prospect in Texas (Rivals100.com) ... No. 54 overall prospect in the Big 12 region (HeartlandRecruiting.com) ... No. 6 quarterback prospect in the Midlands Region (Rivals100.com) ... No. 24 pro-style quarterback prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... Texas Football Top 300 ... Texas Football Super Team third team ... Texas Football Class 3A First-Team All-State ... Texas Football Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year ... Rivals.com Prep Star All-Midlands selection ... OCSN Super Prospect ... Texas Class 3A record with 10,136 career passing yards ... 216-of-375 for 3,277 yards and 34 touchdowns senior season ... also rushed for 297 yards and five touchdowns ... 304-of-537 for 4,678 yards and 35 touchdowns junior season ... High School Coach: Danny Henson.
KEYUNTA DAWSON
DE, 6-2, 245 / Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian)
No. 55 defensive end prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... 2002 Louisiana All-State Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 57 defensive end prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... No. 31 overall prospect in Louisiana (Rivals100.com) ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... helped lead Evangel Christian to 14-1 record and second-consecutive state championship in 2002 ... Evangel finished the 2002 season ranked 19th in USA Today, eighth in the South ... logged 78 tackles, 11 for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles last season ... tremendous speed, strength and quickness ... also recruited by Colorado and LSU ... joins former Evangel teammate Thomas Bachman at Tech ... also joins Tech with current recruiting class member Chad Johnson ... High School Coach: Dennis Dunn.
JOE GARCIA
FS, 6-1, 200 / Clovis, N.M. (Clovis)
Gatorade New Mexico Football Player of the Year senior season ... Albuquerque Journal State Prep Athlete of the Year in all sports as a junior ... helped lead Clovis High School to a 13-0 record and Class 5A State Championship junior season ... grabbed six interceptions as a senior ... finished second in the 2002 state track meet in the 300M hurdles and third in the 100M hurdles ... chose Texas Tech over New Mexico and New Mexico State ... High School Coach: Eric Roanhaus.
BEN GRIFFIN
OL, 6-4, 278 / Ennis, Texas (Ennis)
2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Second-Team All-District ... mostly used as a blocking tight end in high school ... recorded 132 pancake blocks senior season ... graded at 93 percent junior and senior seasons ... caught four passes for 62 yards last season ... team finished 13-2 and advanced to the Class 4A State semifinals senior season ... helped lead team to state championship in 2001 ... 4.9 in the 40 ... also recruited by Baylor ... High School Coach: Sam Harrell.
MATT GRISELL
OL, 6-4, 275 / Bellaire, Texas (Episcopal)
Texas Football Top 300 ... played some on defense, gathering 13 tackles, five for loss, a sack, a forced fumbled and a fumble recovery ... benched 340 pounds ... comes from same high school as current Tech offensive lineman Daniel Loper ... chose Tech over Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M and Colorado State ... High School Coach: Dick Phillips.
SIONE HAVILI
RB, 6-2, 255 / Salt Lake City, Utah (El Camino College)
Rivals100.com Top 500 ... No. 9 junior college running back prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... comes from same junior college as former Tech cornerback Joselio Hanson ... rushed for 755 yards on 117 carries while fighting a knee injury last season ... deceptive speed for his size ... hard, pounding runner ... recruited by Southern California, Fresno State, Oregon State, Kentucky and BYU ... signed with BYU out of high school, but opted for Mormon mission ... one of 20 high school athletes in 1998 to receive honorable mention USA Today Utah Player of the Year honors ... Junior College Coach: Greg Dixon.
ANTONIO HUFFMAN
CB, 6-0, 175 / Lovejoy, Ga. (Garden City CC)
Signed with Tech in 2001, but opted for junior college route ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... has four years of eligibility remaining ... redshirted 2002 season and sat out 2001 campaign ... 3.8 grade point average and member of Phi Beta Kappa national honor society at Garden City CC ... Student Government Association freshman class president at GCCC ... offered scholarships from Tech, Auburn, Marshall, Arkansas, Kentucky and Minnesota out of high school ... caught 26 passes for 449 yards and four touchdowns senior season at Lovejoy High School ... also rushed for five scores ... logged 81 tackles and four interceptions senior season ... ranked among the top 100 defensive backs in the country ... polished defensive back who can cover as well as play the run ... brother, Antoine, is a cornerback at Kentucky ... Junior College Coach: Bob Larson.
JAMAAL JACKSON
CB, 5-11, 175 / Bruce, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi College)
Four-Star recruit (Rivals100.com and Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 ... NJCAA All-American ... OCSN JC 100 ... played in 29th Annual Mississippi All-Star Game ... two-time All-Region XXIII and First-Team MACJC All-State selection ... Rivals.com Prep Star JUCO Top 125 ... 40 tackles, 15 pass breakups and five interceptions last season at Northwest Mississippi ... logged 38 tackles, 18 pass breakups and eight interceptions in 2001 ... had 21 receptions for 343 yards and six touchdowns on offense and ranked eighth in the MACJC in scoring ... ranked 16th nationally in interceptions ... led the team with 104.3 all-purpose yards per game in 2002 ... versatile athlete, also led in kickoff returns with 17 for 432 yards and a 25.4 yards per return average ... punt return leader as well with 18 returns for 164 yards ... second on the team in scoring in 2002 ... also recruited by Central Florida and Oklahoma State ... second player signed by Leach from Northwest Mississippi (Anton Paige) ... prepped at Bruce (Miss.) High School ... Junior College Coach: Bobby Franklin.
CHAD JOHNSON
DB, 5-11, 185 / Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian)
Four-Star athlete (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals.com Prep State All-Southeast selection ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... No. 29 overall prospect in Louisiana (Rivals100.com) ... No. 59 defensive back prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... OCSN Super Prospect ... 2002 Louisiana All-State Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... helped lead Evangel to 14-1 record and second-straight state championship in 2002 ... Evangel finished the 2002 season ranked 19th by USA Today and eighth in the South ... versatile athlete, led the team with 26 punt returns for 253 yards and two touchdowns ... also had 16 kickoff returns for 389 yards and a 24.3 yards per return average ... 73 solo tackles, 40 assists, five interceptions and six pass breakups ... All-District performer ... strong athlete - bench 315, squat 515, 36" vertical and 4.4 in the 40 ... also recruited by Arkansas, Baylor, Clemson, Oklahoma and Tennessee ... High School Coach: Dennis Dunn.
JOSH MORRIS
OT, 6-4, 270 / Midland, Texas (Midland)
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Area Top Dozen (No. 6) ... TSWA Class 5A All-State Second Team ... Associated Press Class 5A Second-Team All-State ... 2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 97 offensive line prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Texas Football Class 5A Second-Team All-State ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... 2002 TPX West Texas All-Area First Team ... All-District 3-5A ... helped lead Midland High School to 12-3 record and Class 5A title game senior season ... high school teammate of fellow recruiting class member Tyler Yenzer ... graded at 93 percent and recorded 54 pancake blocks as a senior ... key blocker in offense that rushed for 3,000 yards and passed for 2,600 ... excellent feet, dominant lead blocker, versatile, tremendous lower body strength ... also recruited by North Texas and TCU ... High School Coach: Craig Yenzer.
CHRIS PARKER
CB, 5-10, 173 / Dallas, Texas (Sunset)
Dallas Morning News All-District 10-5A senior season as a wide receiver ... All-District as a junior ... team MVP ... 4.4 in the 40 ... 20 interceptions in final three seasons, including eight in each his sophomore and junior campaigns ... caught 29 passes for 702 yards as a junior ... rushed for 737 yards and 11 touchdowns senior season ... versatile, strong athlete ... benches 245 and squats 325 ... honor roll student ... also recruited by Houston and Kansas State ... High School Coach: Radford Taylor.
RYAN PHILLIPS
CB, 5-11, 190 / Seattle, Wash. (Mt. San Antonio College)
Rivals100.com Top 500 ... Rivals.com Prep Star JUCO Top 125 ... also recruited by Washington State ... physical player with great speed ... solid cover corner and hard hitter ... Junior College Coach: Bill Fisk.
TOMMIE PRATT
DL, 6-2, 265 / San Jose, Calif. (CC of San Francisco)
All-Region I California First Team ... 16 sacks in two seasons at CCSF ... 8.5 sacks last year ... Top 200 Recruit (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Four-Star recruit ... joins former CCSF teammate Johnnie Mack at Tech ... prepped at Oak Grove High School in San Jose, Calif. ... also recruited by San Diego State, Utah, Idaho and Washington ... Junior College Coach: George Rush.
TAURANCE RAWLS
RB, 5-10, 192 / Garland, Texas (Garland)
2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... No. 62 running back prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 60 athlete prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... Rivals.com Prep Star All-Midlands selection ... Texas Football Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention ... Dallas Morning News All-Area Second Team ... Dallas Morning News All-District 12-5A ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Top 100 ... second-team all-district junior season ... rushed for 1,460 yards as a senior ... outstanding high school track and field athlete ... cleared 7' in the high jump in March 2000 ... benches 330 and squats 365 ... also recruited by Kansas, Baylor, UTEP, Kansas State and Houston ... High School Coach: Jeff Jordan.
ALEX REYES
P, 6-1, 200 / Allen, Texas (Allen)
Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting Top 500 ... No. 17 punter prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... First-Team All-District 9-5A ... averaged 44 yards per kick on 28 punts last season ... had 13 downs inside the 20 with only one touchback ... converted 6-of-8 field goals ... High School Coach: Joe Martin.
RAYMOND SERRES
OL, 6-5, 255 / Humble, Texas (Humble)
2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 96 offensive line prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... Texas Football Top 300 ... Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Team ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Top 100 ... First-Team All-District and All-Region ... helped lead one of Houston area's top offensive units that averaged 327.4 yards per game of total offense ... quick and aggressive, very athletic ... versatile lineman has played every position on the line ... also spent some time on defense ... 4.8 in the 40 ... benches 325 and squats 475 ... also recruited by Oklahoma and Texas A&M ... High School Coach: Neal Quillin.
JABARI SMITH
CB, 5-11, 177 / Mayer, Ariz. (Arizona Western College)
Four-Star recruit (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 200 ... ACCAC Region I First Team ... six interceptions in 2002 ... 4.3 in the 40 ... prepped at The Orne School in Arizona ... rushed for 4,331 yards and 91 touchdowns during high school career, including 2,435 yards and a Arizona Class 2A record 44 touchdowns as a senior ... all-conference performer ... defensively, had over 15 interceptions during prep career, including eight as a senior ... quick and elusive player ... Junior College Coach: Bob O'Mera.
BROCK STRATTON
MLB, 5-11, 225 / San Antonio, Texas (Roosevelt)
Rivals100.com Top 500 ... No. 73 linebacker prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... signed with BYU out of high school, but opted for two-year Mormon mission ... two-time all-state linebacker ... three-year starter at Roosevelt ... finished prep career with 350 tackles, including 123 senior season ... San Antonio Express-News Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... two-time Express-News All-Greater San Antonio selection ... president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and National Honor Society ... won consecutive state wrestling titles in the 189- and 215-pound classes ... 42-0 wrestling record junior season ... brother, Ben, walked on at BYU ... 4.55 in the 40 ... High School Coach: Glenn Hill.
DAVID WEEMS
TE, 6-4, 231 / Conroe, Texas (Oak Ridge)
Houston Chronicle Top 100 ... Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Second Team ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Top 100 ... TSWA Class 4A Second-Team All-State ... OCSN Super Prospect ... 2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 22 tight end prospect in the country (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... No. 37 tight end prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... No. 78 overall prospect in the Big 12 Regional (HeartlandRecruiting.com) ... No. 93 overall prospect in Texas (Rivals100.com) ... Rivals.com Prep Star All-Midlands selection ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... 28 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns last season ... 10 receptions for 115 yards as a junior ... also recorded 35 tackles and four sacks on defense as a junior ... tremendous blocking skills and soft hands ... considered by many to be the best blocking tight end in the state in 2002 ... benches 395 pounds, squats 410 and has recorded a 4.68 in the 40 ... chose Tech over Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Texas A&M and Iowa State ... High School Coach: Roger Holcamp.
PAUL WILLIAMS
OLB, 6-2, 210 / Tyler, Texas (Lee)
Dallas Morning News All-District 11-5A ... Rivals.com Prep Star All-Midlands selection ... No. 61 outside linebacker prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... Texas Football Top 300 ... credited with 103 tackles, including three sacks and seven stops for losses as a senior ... also recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass last season ... helped Tyler Lee advance to the Class 5A Division I State semifinals in 2002 ... logged 96 tackles, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, two batted passes and one blocked punt as a junior ... all-district performer junior season ... 4.5 in the 40 ... 32" vertical ... chose Tech over Colorado, LSU and Baylor ... High School Coach: Mike Owens.
TYLER YENZER
DE, 6-4, 220 / Midland, Texas (Midland)
Texas Football Class 5A First-Team All-State ... Texas Football Top 300 ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal State Top 100 ... Associated Press Class 5A First-Team All-State ... No. 36 defensive end prospect in the country (Rivals100.com) ... TSWA Class 5A All-State Second Team ... 2002 Texas Super Team (Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting) ... Rivals100.com Top 500 ... 2002 TPX West Texas All-Area First Team ... 89 solo tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered senior season ... helped lead Midland High to a 12-3 record and an appearance in the Class 5A State Championship game ... high school teammate of fellow recruiting class member Josh Morris ... also former teammate of current Red Raiders Cody and Slade Hodges at Hereford High School ... also recruited by Boston College, TCU, Missouri, Baylor and UTEP ... High School Coach: Craig Yenzer.
