Neece plays in Tech spring game
Dax Neece, a 2018 graduate of Albany High School and a current member of the Texas Tech Red Raider football team, is getting a chance to play spring ball for Tech.
Neece played a couple of downs last fall during the Red Raider game against Lamar on Sept. 8 in Lubbock, but the wide receiver sat out most of the 2018 season as a “redshirt” freshman.
Rule changes in 2018 allowed NCAA players to participate in up to four games and still retain that season of eligibility as a redshirt year, and Dax is one of 11 of the 20 redshirts at Tech last fall who played in at least one game during the 2018 football season.
Spring ball does not count against future eligibility, and according to his mother, Kim Neece, Dax got to play a lot during last Saturday’s scrimmage at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, and he anticipates playing in this weekend’s scrimmage in Midland.
Dax Neece signed with Texas Tech as a preferred walk-on wide receiver during his senior year of high school, and he is listed as number 31 on the Red Raider roster.
“Dax just really liked the facility and the coaches and thought that he would be a good fit there. They have a history of being willing to work with walk-ons.”
His mother added that even though the coaching staff has changed since he signed last year, Dax likes the new coaching staff just as well.
According to Neece, at Tech they work with all the players really well, and they treat them all the same way.
“I just want to make sure I always work hard and do my best to do whatever I can to help the team,” he said.
Neece is a business major.
He played on the Albany Lions varsity team for three years, scoring 35 touchdowns, and helping his team make it to the state quarterfinals in 2017, the regional playoffs in 2016, and the state championship game in 2015.
In h igh school, Neece was named to the first team all district football team, was selected all-district defensive MVP, and placed on the all Big Country and on the all-state teams.
He also excelled at basketball, baseball, and track and field at Albany. Neece won silver at state in the triple jump with a distance of 45’ 6.25”, and in long jump with 22’ 6” his senior year.
Neece helped his Lion basketball team make it to the regional quarterfinals in 2018, and the regional semifinals in 2016 and 2017.
He was also an important member of the Lion baseball team that made it to the state championship game in 2017, and was chosen as first baseman for the 2A All-State Tournament baseball team.
The annual Texas Tech Spring Game will be held in Frisco, Texas on Saturday, April 13, and the first game of the 2019 season will be against Montana State in Lubbock on Saturday, Aug. 31, hopefully with #31 on the field to help his team.
