Since joining the Big 12 last fall, the West Virginia Mountaineers have been working hard on the recruiting trail to convert their new-found visibility in Texas into success on the recruiting trail. Some of that work paid off on Thursday with the commitment of Spring (TX) Klein Collins offensive guard Tyler Tezeno.
Tyler Tezeno Commits To West Virginia Mountaineers
The Texas pipeline could be opening up for West Virginia.
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A 6-3, 280-pounder who is rated as a three-star prospect by the services, Tezeno held 10 offers prior to his pledge. And while most of his offer list is relatively unimpressive, Tezeno did give his pledge to the Mountaineers while holding an offer from LSU, making his commitment a significant coup for head coach Dana Holgorsen as he attempts to secure a foothold in the state in which he coached for nearly 10 years at Houston and Texas Tech.
Tezeno is the sixth commitment in the class and the first from Texas.
So why did the big lineman choose West Virginia over LSU?
They have always been on my mind, ever since they offered. I really like the people, the coaches, everything.
The ability to play games in his home state also factored into his decision:
The move to the Big 12 definitely helped, too. That way my family can see more of my games.
Holgorsen and his staff certainly hope that the appeal of playing in Texas helps reel in more recruits from the Lone Star state.
An impressive physical specimen who is carrying little to no bad weight and has a thick and powerful lower body, Tezeno projects as an offensive guard at the next level, though he could also play defensive tackle if necessary. Since he’ll be playing in the zone running scheme used by Holgorsen, the key for Tezeno in college will be his ability to combo block to the next level. He shows the ability on film to get movement along the line, then quickly get to the second level, where he has the feet and agility to make contact with smaller defenders.
If there’s one issue, it’s that Tezeno doesn’t pack the strong punch that one would expect from his developed upper body, though it doesn’t appear to be a result of any lack of flexibility or stiffness in his lower body, as Tezeno moves well -- most likely it’s a technique issue, since his functional strength still allows him to overpower most high school opponents.
For more on WVU football, visit West Virginia blog The Smoking Musket, plus SB Nation Pittsburgh.
