Texas Tech Recruitment: Shift in Leadership or Unearned Riches through Name, Image, and Likeness?
Texas Tech football has made a significant leap in college football recruiting, challenging the traditional recruiting powerhouses in the sport. Under the leadership of coach Joey McGuire, the Red Raiders have secured top-tier talent, including multiple five-star recruits and high-ranking prospects who were previously expected to commit to established juggernauts like Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State.
The 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and roughly No. 25-26 nationally, according to 247 Sports and On3 rankings, demonstrating a competitive standing in a conference historically dominated by Texas and Oklahoma. The 2027 recruiting class features highly ranked prospects such as LaDamion Guyton, ESPN’s No. 5 overall recruit, who chose Texas Tech over numerous traditional blue-blood programs, indicating the Red Raiders' growing ability to attract elite talent nationally.
Texas Tech has combined strong recruiting classes with an aggressive transfer portal strategy, bringing in top talent that upgrades key positions, especially on defense, elevating their competitiveness at the conference and national levels. Recruiting analysts and insiders have noted Texas Tech’s strategic targeting of high-impact players and their improving reputation, with predictions that the program is "shaking up the college football recruiting world."
While Texas Tech has not yet fully displaced traditional juggernauts at the very top of national recruiting rankings, their rapid rise and ability to land elite prospects from across the country clearly establish them as a new and formidable force in college football recruiting, challenging the old guard. However, it's important to note that Texas Tech is not yet a college football dynasty.
Notable recruits who have committed to Texas Tech include five-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo, who pledged to the Red Raiders in July 2022, and LaDamion Guyton, the number one recruit in the 2027 class, who pledged to Texas Tech in August 2022. The Red Raiders are starting to invest in five-star recruits at premier positions like offensive tackle and edge rusher.
As of now, Texas Tech is ranked 25th in the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings with 19 commits. While this is a significant improvement from their past, they are not yet upsetting the status quo of recruiting powers like Alabama or comparable to coaches like Kirby Smart.
Red Raider fans should enjoy the rise of their program without being preoccupied with being "ahead of schedule." The team's recent success in high school football recruiting is a promising sign for the future of Texas Tech football.
The Red Raiders are not only making a mark in college football recruiting with their strong 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes, but they are also attracting elite talent from across the nation, such as five-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo and ESPN's No. 5 overall recruit, LaDamion Guyton, who plays American-football. Texas Tech's recruitment strategies, including strong recruiting classes and an aggressive transfer portal strategy, have earned them recognition as a new and formidable force in college football recruiting, challenging traditional juggernauts.
