As Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders prepare for their upcoming Liberty Bowl matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the team is staying active on the recruiting trail. Following the departure of quarterback Jake Strong via the transfer portal, Tech needed to address its quarterback depth—and on Monday, they secured a major commitment with the signing of Frenship High School quarterback Holden Phillips.
Frenship High is set to make the announcement official on Tuesday. Despite the early signing period closing on December 6, Frenship head coach Jay Northcutt confirmed that Phillips will enroll at Texas Tech in January, per McGuire’s request.
“He’s a pretty special player at that position,” Northcutt said, describing Phillips as someone who excels at the fundamentals while also being able to make “the uncommon play.” Northcutt added that Phillips is especially adept at buying time and keeping his eyes downfield, which allows him to extend plays and create opportunities.
This past season, Phillips threw for 4,453 yards, recording 57 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. The performance helped propel Frenship to a 10-2 record. Phillips joins fellow Frenship standout Leyton Stone, a wide receiver who signed with Texas Tech earlier this month after a 1,488-yard, 29-touchdown season.
Phillips’ addition becomes even more important after it was revealed over the weekend that starting quarterback Behren Morton will miss the Liberty Bowl due to shoulder surgery. With Phillips enrolling early, he could make an immediate impact for the Red Raiders as they look ahead to next season.
True freshman Will Hammond will step in for Morton in Memphis at the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29. Hammond is a 6-2, 205-pounder from Hutto High School and was a four-star prospect per ESPN and the No. 14 pocket passer in last season’s rankings.
