Former KU football commitment Jared Hocker picks Texas Tech

By Matt Tait     Jun 10, 2016

Just a couple of days after de-committing from Kansas, Class of 2017 offensive lineman Jared Hocker announced Friday on Twitter that he had committed to Texas Tech.

Hocker, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman from North Richland Hills, Texas, originally committed to KU back in January on the same day that fellow-Texan Grant Polley pledged his services to KU.

Polley backed out first and Hocker joined his this week, saying: “When I received my offer from KU, I wasn’t familiar with the recruiting process and, in hindsight, I made a premature decision. There is a great deal I like, even love, about KU not the least of which is the coaching staff. Coaches Beaty, (Zach) Yenser and (Kenny) Perry have all been wonderful to me and it is with the deepest regret that I feel I must re-examine my options.”

That re-examination lasted just a couple of days and, on Friday, Hocker Tweeted #GunsUp and wrote: “After a long decision with my family, I have decided to commit to Texas Tech and end my recruiting. It’s been a great experience and I’d like to thank all the coaches for the opportunities I’ve been given.”

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.