Wade finds what he needed in Lubbock

2008 was a rough year for Myles Wade. In October, he was told by the college he committed to out of high school that he wasn't good enough. Recently his mother Lori passed away after a lengthy illness. He wasn't sure where he was going to finish out his education. The former U.S. Army All-American had to start back up from square one, with little idea of how he'd get back to the top.

And on Sunday night, he got a second chance to make it happen all over again.

"I committed to Texas Tech," Wade told Scout.com Sunday from his Portland, Ore. home after his in-home visit with three Red Raider coaches, including head coach Mike Leach. "They were all happy and excited. It felt like family. I appreciate it more than my first commitment to Oregon. That happened on the phone.

"All the pieces fit the puzzle. I'm done. I'm ending my recruitment with Texas Tech."

A big piece to that puzzle was the thought of his mother. "She was in the room with me, every time a coach was there," he said. "I couldn't have done this without her and without God."

So Auburn, Nebraska, Washington and USC will be getting calls from Wade very soon, letting them know that he's going to Lubbock, Tex. to finish out his career.

So what else did Tech have to offer? For starters, genuine interest. Everything they said they would do, they backed up with action. "They had all the intangibles," said Wade. "The first time they talked to me, I spoke with coach Simmons. The second time they brought two coaches in for an in-home visit. Then I went on my official visit and the very next day they came back with three coaches, including the defensive coordinator and head coach. Two minutes into the conversation I told them."

And that was it. Long gone were the days of uncertainty after the Ducks left Myles in the lurch, unsure of his future and looking for answers. "On my official visit to Oregon in October, coach (Nick) Allioti told me that my film wasn't up to Oregon standards," he said. "I was shocked. Texas Tech offered me after watching five plays. I mean Oregon has my respect, but the way they treated me wasn't proper."

Apparently the way they do things in North Texas suits Wade just fine. "The Big-12 is a great conference," he said. "I can wait to get after guys like Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford."

Myles Wade Scout.com Profile