Full Signing Day Coverage

Here are thumbnail sketches on football players that signed with Texas Tech on Wednesday:

Ryan's Scotty Young (10) during a playoff football game against Guyer, Saturday, December 5, 2009 at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex in Denton.

SCOTTY YOUNG, 6-3, 190, QB, Denton Ryan: Member of A-J Fabulous 44 and Parade Magazine all-America team. … Threw for 65 touchdowns his junior year and 64 touchdowns his senior season, missing the state record of 67 set by former Tech quarterback Graham Harrell at Ennis. … During senior season, completed 287 of 475 passes for 4,500 yards, helping team go 12-2. … Threw for 4,495 yards for a 9-4 team as a junior. … Received first scholarship offer from Tech, and picked up later offers from Arizona, SMU, Baylor and Houston. Notre Dame and Arizona State also recruited him after Tech’s coaching change.

DELANS GRIFFIN, 5-10, 178, RB, Clinton, Okla.: Ranked among nation’s top 25 running backs by SuperPrep and Rivals.com and No. 6 prospect in Oklahoma by Rivals.com. … Carried 109 times for 939 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior, despite injury problems. … As a junior, ran for 1,962 yards, piled up 40 touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning kicks and was an all-state punter averaging almost 41 yards. … Had varsity career totals of 404 carries, 3,712 yards and 70 total touchdowns, including 57 rushing. … Rushed for 700 yards as a sophomore for unbeaten Class 3A state champion. … Said he also received scholarship offers from Tulsa, Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Colorado. … State champion in the 100 meters. … First name is pronounced “De-LANCE.’’

BEN MCROY, 5-9, 163, IR-RB, Lakeland, Fla.: Played running back, receiver, cornerback and returned kicks during four-year varsity career. … Played primarily cornerback as a junior and primarily running back as a senior. … Helped team to 13-1 record and Class 5A state semifinals as a senior. Carried 99 times for 872 yards and five touchdowns and caught three passes for 101 yards and three TDs. … Said he received scholarship offers from South Florida, Central Florida, Kansas State, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, Alabama State and Georgia Southern.

SHAWN CORKER, 6-1, 189, WR, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Cardinal Gibbons: Caught 58 passes for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior and had 33 catches for 912 yards and 14 TDs as a junior. … Said he had 35 scholarship offers and narrowed his choices to Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Miami and Florida. Other prominent offers were from Michigan, Tennessee, Purdue, Mississippi, Auburn and South Carolina. … Qualified for state track meet in the 200 meters and sprint relay as a sophomore.

ALEON CALHOUN, 6-6, 330, OT, Navasota: Played left tackle on Class 3A team that went 9-4, 10-1 and 9-3 the last three years, losing twice in the playoffs to eventual state champions. … Ranked as the No. 17 offensive tackle in the nation by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. … Also offered scholarships by Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Southern Mississippi and Texas A&M.

BEAU CARPENTER, 6-7, 275, OT, Sulphur Springs: Member of A-J state Top 100 recruiting list. … Three-year varsity player for Class 4A team that won state his junior year. … As a senior, was credited with a 91-percent blocking grade, 49 pancake blocks and one sack allowed. … Played right tackle for a Class 4A team that finished 10-4, losing in a regional final. … Said he was offered scholarships by Oklahoma State, SMU, Kansas, Northwestern, Northwestern State, Missouri, Minnesota, Rice, Harvard, Houston and New Mexico. … Said he also was contacted by Oklahoma, Arkansas and Miami (Fla.) between the time Mike Leach was fired on Dec. 30 and the time Carpenter enrolled on Jan. 13.

JAMES POLK, 6-7, 290, OT, Alief Elsik: Graded above 90 percent in eight games as a senior. … Didn’t allow a sack in team’s 245 pass attempts. … Credited with 25 pancake blocks. … Also had scholarship offers from Grambling, Texas-El Paso, Kansas and Mississippi State. … Father, James Polk Sr., listed at 6-11, was an all-conference defensive linemen on Eddie Robinson’s Grambling teams in the 1980s, playing for the Tigers’ famed “Trees of Terror’’ defense.

DARTWAN BUSH, 6-1, 255, DE, Clute Brazoswood: First-team all-Greater Houston honoree and Class 5A second-team all-state by The Associated Press Sports Editors. … Unanimous choice by eight coaches as player of the year in District 24-5A. … Credited with 81 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five fumbles caused and four batted passes. … Team went 10-4, advancing to Class 5A Division I regional final. … Also recruited by Houston, TCU, North Texas, Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State and Nebraska.

SCOTT SMITH, 6-7, 275, DE, Butler, Kan., College: Ranked by Rivals.com as No. 1 junior college defensive line recruit in nation and No. 4 juco recruit overall. … Projected as a standup defensive end/outside linebacker by Tech coach Tommy Tuberville. … Was credited with 74 tackles last season, including 261/2 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. … Also had 11 quarterback pressures, four fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. … Said he also was offered scholarships by Arkansas, UCLA and Baylor. … Tech would be fourth college stop. Also has been at Pac-10 Conference programs California, where he signed out of high school, and Arizona. … Attended St. Louis High School in Honolulu.

LAWRENCE CAYOU, 6-4, 245, DE, New Orleans, La., McDonogh 35: Credited with 17 sacks as a senior and returned a fumble for a touchdown in a playoff game. … Honorable mention Class 4A all-state as a junior. … Also had a scholarship offer from SMU.
Defensive coordinator James Willis says: “Lawrence is a steal, a diamond in the rough for this class. He possesses a combination of speed and size that is very rare and hard to find.’’

COBY COLEMAN, 6-2, 283, DT, Frankston: All-District 19-2A at both tight end and defensive tackle during his junior year, when he had 52 tackles and 10 behind the line. … Injured midway through senior season. … Ranked No. 98 recruit in state by Rivals.com. … Also recruited by Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Tech. … Nephew of former pro baseball outfielder Paul Coleman, who was sixth overall selection in 1989 major league draft.

MIKE JONES, 6-2, 267, DT, Sugar Land Kempner: One of 10 finalists for the Touchdown Club of Houston defensive player of the year award. … Credited with 59 tackles, including 12 behind the line and 71/2 sacks. … Three-year varsity player who played offensive tackle as a sophomore before moving to defensive tackle for last two years. Had 68 tackles and five sacks as a junior. … Committed to Fordham in mid-January before changing mind. Said he also was offered scholarships by Houston, Texas-El Paso, Texas-San Antonio and Louisiana-Lafayette.

DONALD LANGLEY, 6-2, 295, DT, Copiah-Lincoln, Miss., College: A blue-chip recruit out of high school, he spent his freshman and redshirt freshman seasons at Tennessee, but played in only two games. … Credited with 10 sacks in eight games in sophomore season at Copiah-Lincoln. Said he was offered scholarships by North Carolina, Michigan State, Louisiana Tech and Georgia. … Was considered a national top 100 recruit coming out of Germantown, Md., Seneca Valley High School. Said he had 55 scholarship offers and took recruiting visits to Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, Penn State and Tennessee.

JACKSON RICHARDS, 6-3, 247, DE, Southlake Carroll: Member of A-J Fabulous 44. … Ranked as No. 3 defensive end in Texas by Texas Football magazine winter edition. … Helped team to an 11-2 record as a senior, making 53 tackles, nine sacks and five forced fumbles. … Made 40 tackles and 14 sacks as a junior. … Also received scholarship offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas State, LSU, North Carolina, Texas A&M and UCLA.

LAWRENCE RUMPH, 6-3, 270, DE, Navarro College/Keller Fossil Ridge: Can play either defensive end or defensive tackle. … Also was recruited by Kansas State, Missouri, Arizona, Baylor, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Baylor and Utah. … Credited with 35 tackles, seven for loss and two sacks as a Navarro freshman. … Credited with 70 tackles and 16 sacks as a high school senior. … Brother of former Tech and South Plains College basketball player Alana Rumph.

JOE CARMICAL, 6-2, 231, ILB, Monticello, Ark.: Passed for 1,193 yards and 19 touchdowns and ran for 1,237 yards and 20 TDs playing quarterback for a state championship team. Class 5A team finished 14-0. … Played linebacker only during senior year, but projected as a linebacker by Tech. … State champion shot putter with throw of 54 feet, 3 inches. … Said he also had scholarship offers from Marshall, Central Arkansas and Arkansas State and interest from North Carolina and Kansas.

CQULIN HUBERT, 6-3, 230, OLB, Aldine Eisenhower: Two-time all-District 19-5A honoree. … Credited with six sacks as a senior for a 6-5 team. … Originally committed to Iowa State. Also had scholarship offers from Kansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, New Mexico State, Tulsa and Utah State. … First name is pronounced “CUE-lin.’’

ZACH WINBUSH, 6-2, 205, OLB, Schertz Clemens: Credited with 116 tackles as a senior, notching double-digit totals in eight games. … Also carried the ball 18 times, averaging 13.8 yards, and scoring eight touchdowns. … Three-year starter and two-time All-District 27-4A. … As a junior, made 108 tackles for team that reached second round of Class 4A Division II playoffs. … Said he also was offered a scholarship by Missouri and received attention from Texas A&M, Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Kansas State before he committed to Tech in March.

URELL JOHNSON, 6-0, 176, CB, New Orleans Walker: Missed senior season with a partially torn ligament, for which he underwent surgery in July. … Made three interceptions as a junior. … Started at safety as a sophomore for a Class 4A state semifinal team. … Said he also was offered scholarships by Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi, Kansas State, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico State, Baylor and Tulsa. … State champion in the indoor and outdoor long jump with efforts of 23 feet-plus.
Defensive coordinator James Willis says: “Urell is a very explosive athlete. He is unique in that he has a bigger body type, but excels in coverage. He is an outstanding football player and tremendous track athlete.’’

DESMOND MARTIN, 6-0, 178, S, Round Rock Stony Point: Member of A-J state Top 100 recruiting list. … Made 43 tackles, one interception and six pass breakups as a senior. … All-District 16-5A. … Had 70 tackles and 15 pass breakups as a junior. … Also offered scholarships by Missouri, North Texas, Tulsa and Texas-El Paso.

RUSSELL POLK, 5-11, 200, S, Dallas Carter: All-District 11-4A. … Credited with 78 tackles and four interceptions as a junior. … Also had scholarship offers from Nebraska and Texas-El Paso.
Defensive coordinator James Willis says: “Russell is a fierce tackler and has great cover ability. Russell was the field general for Carter High School and a leader in the secondary.’’

TRE’VANTE PORTER, 6-0, 185, CB, Midwest City, Okla., Carl Albert: Top player for Oklahoma Class 5A team that lost in state final his junior year and won state title his senior year. … Three-year starter on both offense and defense. Has played cornerback, safety, wide receiver, running back and kick returner. … Projected as a cornerback by Tech. … As a senior, credited with 115 tackles and two interceptions. On offense, he rushed for 652 yards and eight touchdowns and caught passes for 665 yards and 11 TDs. … Credited with 96 tackles and four interceptions as a junior. … Said he also had scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Colorado, Toledo, Louisville and Vanderbilt.

BRANDON SMITH, 6-1, 175, Raceland, La., Central Lafourche: Credited with 27 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups as a senior. … All-District 8-5A and honorable mention all-state. … Helped team go 7-4 and return to playoffs for first time in eight years. … Received scholarship offer from Florida International and inquiries from Memphis, Mississippi State and LSU after he committed to Tech.

PHILLIP WARREN, 5-9, 175, CB, Miami, Fla., Southridge: Played running back, cornerback and punter for Class 6A team that went 10-1. … Credited with 20 solo, 44 assists, 10 sacks and a fumble recovery. … Carried 30 times for 275 yards and three touchdowns. … Also offered scholarships by Marshall, Northern Illinois and Southern Mississippi.

LAVAUGHN WHIGHAM, 6-1, 180, WR-DB, Miami, Fla., Southridge: Played both ways for Class 6A team that went 10-1. … Caught 10 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown and was credited with four solo tackles, 29 assists and one interception that he returned for a TD. … Originally committed to Central Michigan. Also offered scholarships by Marshall, Northern Illinois, Louisville and Southern Mississippi.

Full Signing Day Coverage