Navarro defensive lineman makes conditional pledge to Tech
Lawrence Rumph doesn’t lack for confidence, vowing to be a good player wherever he lands next.
“I’m going to shine wherever I go,’’ he said.
Next stop, Texas Tech. At least, that’s the plan for now.
Rumph, a 6-foot-31/2, 270-pound defensive lineman from Navarro College in Corsicana, made an oral commitment to the Red Raiders after he visited campus this weekend. Tech coaches offered him a scholarship Monday, and he decided to accept.
But Rumph cautioned that his is not a firm commitment.
“There’s a chance I could go somewhere else,’’ he said. “I’m still not completely sure about it, but I discussed it with my coach and some other people and they said I should go ahead.’’
Rumph said he’s been recruited by Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Southern Mississippi, Baylor and Utah and has also been contacted by Oklahoma.
He plans to take all of five of his allotted official visits — Tech was the first, and Rumph said the next two are likely to be to Missouri and San Diego State.
In the meantime, he got a firsthand feel for Tech over the weekend. Rumph already had a familiarity with the Red Raiders because he was a high school teammate of Tech defensive tackle Chris Perry, and his sister, Alana Rumph, is a former Lady Raiders basketball player who is still a student.
“It’s a good school and everything,’’ Rumph said. “My sister goes out there, and one of my home boys plays d-line there. I liked it there. Everything was nice. The facilities were great.’’
Rumph said Tech coaches are projecting him to play defensive end. He believes he’s better now at defensive tackle — he has played both positions — but thinks he can get faster in Tech’s strength and conditioning program and do well at end.
Two years ago, when he was a senior at Keller Fossil Ridge, Rumph was credited with 70 tackles and 16 sacks.
As for what makes him a major-college prospect, Rumph said, “My quickness off the ball and just my ability to make plays other people can’t.’’
Oral commitments are non-binding until Feb. 3, when the national signing period begins.
Tech has 20 pledges and expects to sign 24 or 25 recruits.
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TEXAS TECH COMMITMENTS
The following players have made oral commitments to sign with Texas Tech. The national signing period begins Feb. 3.
Scotty Young, 6-3, 190, QB, Denton Ryan; Aaron Spikes, 5-9, 185, RB, Dallas Pinkston; Delans Griffin, 5-10, 178, RB, Clinton, Okla.; Kadron Boone, 6-1, 190, WR, Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic; Shawn Corker, 6-1, 189, WR, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons; Beau Carpenter, 6-7, 250, OT, Sulphur Springs; James Polk, 6-7, 290, OT, Alief Elsik; Denton Simek, 6-6, 260, OT, Prague, Okla; Javius Townsend, 6-4, 300, OT-OG, Dallas Madison; Kedrick Dial, 6-5, 215, DE, Sulphur Springs; Jackson Richards, 6-3, 247, DE, Southlake Carroll; Lawrence Rumph, 6-3, 270, DE, Navarro College/Keller Fossil Ridge; Coby Coleman, 6-2, 290, DT, Frankston; Fred Harvey, 6-0, 230, LB, Memphis (Tenn.) White Station; Zach Winbush, 6-2, 205, LB, Schertz Clemens; Urell Johnson, 6-0, 175, CB, New Orleans (La.) Walker; Desmond Martin, 6-0, 178, DB, Round Rock Stony Point; Russell Polk, 5-11, 190, S, Dallas Carter; Tre’Vante Porter, 6-0, 185, DB, Midwest City (Okla.) Carl Albert; Brandon Smith, 6-0, 175, DB, Raceland (La.) Central Lafourche.
Talented player. Hope he decides to sign with the Raiders.
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Whoo hoo.
Another junior college wizard D lineman has deigned to consider Tech.. He ALREADY knows more than the coaches! I’m on tinterhooks!
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How you figure Russell?
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typical tech recuiting, take anyone the big dawgs overlook
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Well, aren’t we blessed! It is a good thing Rumph has bestowed upon Tech the honor of his semi-commitment. Perhaps Tech should revise their offer contingent on his being able to spell ‘football’ before he is allowed to play with one.
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Hey “riftraft”, are you new to being a troll, or been one for a while?
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He was recruited by Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Southern Mississippi, Baylor, Utah and Oklahoma and pledged to Tech. So apparently some of the “big dawgs” didn’t overlook him.
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Can you say “Stephen Gaines”? Hope it works out, but he sounds like another kid who has made a “soft commitment” to help up the bidding by other schools. If he gets here, we’ll be fortunate to be able to keep him in school – a la Stephen Gaines.
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Hope he turns out better than most of the JUCO guys we have brought in. I can only think of three recently that were game changers: Robert Johnson, Brandon Sesay and Dwayne Slay. I can’t even list how many never developed.
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