Kliff Kingsbury Visits Midland
By: Caroline Lockwood
Updated: February 11, 2013
MIDLAND -- Kliff Kingsbury's second stint at Texas Tech has been a whirl wind adventure.
"It's been hectic, it's been hectic," said Kingsbury. "I had to ask a few times what day it is, but it's been good."
Kingsbury was just named the new head football coach for the Red Raiders back in December, but he's wasted no time recruiting across the state. He was in Midland on Monday as part of the Texas Tech Recruiting Review. Kingsbury said he knows the importance the Tall City has on his program.
"We want to have our imprint out here in Midland, so we're excited to bring this product," Kingsbury said. "We'll come back again in April during spring ball and we're fired up about it."
The imprint has been made. Monday's event was sold out, with 650 Texas Tech fans in attendence at the Midland Center. That is double what showed up last year.
It's not just Midland's fans Texas Tech is targeting, it's also the city's talent, but that is nothing new.
"Through the years we've had guys like Austin Burns and Baron Batch; the list is long," said Midland High head football coach Craig Yenzer. "It (Texas Tech) feels like home to me, because I've seen these kids grow up. Of course, they're not kids any more now."
It's appropriate Kingsbury's very first commit came from the Tall City, in form of former Midland High running back and junior college transfer, Tyler Middleton.
"What jumps out to you about Tyler is his speed, and then you meet him," said Kingsbury. "Great personality, great kid, hard worker... so we expect Tyler to come in and make an immediate impact."
"When he (Middleton) was here he was just a spectacular athlete and really a part of the 2010 team," said Yenzer. "I'm excited to go watch him."
Yenzer went on to ask his former player for tickets, but with the buzz that surrounds this new coaching staff at Tech, free tickets may be hard to come by.
"It's been hectic, it's been hectic," said Kingsbury. "I had to ask a few times what day it is, but it's been good."
Kingsbury was just named the new head football coach for the Red Raiders back in December, but he's wasted no time recruiting across the state. He was in Midland on Monday as part of the Texas Tech Recruiting Review. Kingsbury said he knows the importance the Tall City has on his program.
"We want to have our imprint out here in Midland, so we're excited to bring this product," Kingsbury said. "We'll come back again in April during spring ball and we're fired up about it."
The imprint has been made. Monday's event was sold out, with 650 Texas Tech fans in attendence at the Midland Center. That is double what showed up last year.
It's not just Midland's fans Texas Tech is targeting, it's also the city's talent, but that is nothing new.
"Through the years we've had guys like Austin Burns and Baron Batch; the list is long," said Midland High head football coach Craig Yenzer. "It (Texas Tech) feels like home to me, because I've seen these kids grow up. Of course, they're not kids any more now."
It's appropriate Kingsbury's very first commit came from the Tall City, in form of former Midland High running back and junior college transfer, Tyler Middleton.
"What jumps out to you about Tyler is his speed, and then you meet him," said Kingsbury. "Great personality, great kid, hard worker... so we expect Tyler to come in and make an immediate impact."
"When he (Middleton) was here he was just a spectacular athlete and really a part of the 2010 team," said Yenzer. "I'm excited to go watch him."
Yenzer went on to ask his former player for tickets, but with the buzz that surrounds this new coaching staff at Tech, free tickets may be hard to come by.
