Texas Tech signs 6 receivers to help in red-zone situations

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) Kliff Kingsbury didn't get a quarterback this year, though the two remaining signal-callers will have taller receivers as targets next season.

The Red Raiders weren't very efficient in the red zone last year, so the height of the six receivers in Wednesday's signing class should help.

Many of the receivers will play right away, Kingsbury said Wednesday.

''We knew we needed a big class at that position,'' he said. ''Went after some bigger guys, which we don't have on our roster, some taller guys. But got some fast guys as well.''

The group is heavy on Texas players, with 18 of the 20 players hailing from the Lone Star State.

After losing five-star quarterback Jarrett Stidham to Baylor, Kingsbury said the team should be fine with Patrick Mahomes or Davis Webb, who made starts last season. The pair will compete to become the starter in the spring.

The top-rated player in the class is defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko of Honolulu. He is the third Fehoko to play for Texas Tech.

Another player new defensive coordinator David Gibbs liked and said will play as a true freshman is a 5-foot-10 linebacker D'Vonta Hinton from Texas City, Texas.

''That guy is a dynamic football player,'' Gibbs said. ''When he hits people, they go backward, which nowadays is a lost art.''

A couple of players from South Oak Cliff High in Dallas, cornerback Jamile Johnson and receiver J.F. Thomas, could have settled on Texas Tech because their coach was coming to Lubbock as director of player development. Emmett Jones started with the program Sunday.

Thomas, who caught 72 passes for 26 touchdowns and 1,597 yards his senior year, had committed to TCU.

''He can stretch the field vertically, but also isn't afraid to go across the idle of the field and make plays,'' receivers coach Eric Morris said.

The Red Raiders, known for years for their pass-heavy offense, signed one running back, Corey Dauphine from Port Arthur, Texas. Kingsbury called him ''one of the fastest'' players in the country.

''We'd love to keep handing it off,'' Kingsbury said about wanting to run the ball more.

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TEXAS TECH

Top 25 Class: No

Best in class: Breiden Fehoko, DL, Honolulu

Best of the rest: J.F. Thomas, WR, Dallas

Late addition: Jamile Johnson, CB, Dallas

One that got away: Jarrett Stidham, QB, Stephenville, Texas.