RECRUITING: What Texas Tech needs in the 2018 class

National signing day is coming fast, and we’ll be looking at each FBS team’s needs as the end of the 2018 recruiting season arrives. Next up: Texas TechBiggest need: Receivers It's an easy call for Kliff Kingsbury's class in Lubbock. Yes, he's losing quarterback Nic Shimonek, but all four of his starting receivers, as well as reserve Ja'Deion High, are gone. Leading receiver Keke Coutee entered the draft early, leaving the Red Raiders to fill a gigantic 93-catch, 1,429-yard void in his absence. Speedster Cam Batson graduated, leaving the Red Raiders without a proven home-run hitter and return man. Big-bodied red zone weapon Dylan Cantrell is gone, along with 71 more catches. Derek Willies' career is also over, coming up short of expectations after joining his one-time teammate at Iowa, Shimonek, in West Texas. In all, five of the team's top six receivers are gone, which includes running back Justin Stockton. That's a ton of production. But T.J. Vasher can't catch 250 balls for 3,000 yards, so somebody else has to fill the gaps and Kingsbury needs numbers at every receiver position. How it's being addressed: Kingsbury signed 12 players during the early signing period in December. Five are receivers, including the two best overall prospects. He's not done. Denton Ryan's Gabriel Douglas will give the class a second four-star prospect and would become the second-highest rated recruit in the class if the October commit ends up signing with the Red Raiders next month. Timber Creek's Erik Ezukanma leads the class as a four-star WR already in the fold. He's the nation's No. 49 overall receiver, and burst on the scene as a junior in 2016 with 88 catches for 1,447 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 6-2, 183-pound receiver should compete for immediate playing time. KeSean Carter is a 5-10, 150-pound receiver more in the mold of Batson, checking in as the second-highest rated prospect among the group of 12 that signed in December. Kingsbury's class is ranked eighth in the Big 12 and 67th nationally. Myller Royals from Abilene Cooper and Corey Fulcher from Lake Highlands also signed in December, as well as Burnet's Sterling Galban. The Air Raid is always attractive for receivers, especially when you have Kingsbury's pedigree for developing quarterbacks and receivers. More recruiting needs: