After a historic 12–2 season and a trip to the College Football Playoff, Joey McGuire has proven that Texas Tech isn’t just a one-hit wonder. By mid-February 2026, the Red Raiders have officially solidified a top-10 transfer portal class (ranked as high as No. 4 nationally by 247Sports), effectively reloading for another run at the Big 12 title.
The “Crown Jewel”: Brendan Sorsby
The headline of the 2026 class is undoubtedly quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The former Cincinnati star—and ESPN’s top-rated player in the portal—chose Lubbock over LSU in a recruitment that featured a reported $5 million NIL deal.
The Upgrade: Sorsby brings a dual-threat dimension that Behren Morton lacked. After a 2025 season where he accounted for 36 total touchdowns and nearly 3,400 yards, he is expected to elevate a Tech offense that was famously shut out by Oregon in the 2025 Orange Bowl.
Weaponizing the Offense
McGuire didn’t just get a quarterback; he bought him an arsenal.
SEC Speed: Tech landed Malcolm Simmons (Auburn), an explosive playmaker who finished 2025 with back-to-back 140-yard games.
Reliable Volume: The addition of Kenny Johnson (Pitt) provides a veteran possession receiver who caught over 100 passes in the ACC, while Donte Lee Jr. (Liberty) adds a 6’3″ vertical threat.
The Trenches: To protect the investment, Tech added Jordan Church, a massive guard from Louisville who was graded as one of the ACC’s top run-blockers.
The Defensive Reload
With All-American Jacob Rodriguez departing, the Red Raiders used their “NIL war chest” to raid conference rivals and Group of Five standouts.
The “Green Dot”: Austin Romaine, a second-team All-Big 12 linebacker from Kansas State, will immediately take over the defensive play-calling duties.
Sack Production: After losing 27 sacks to the NFL, Tech signed Trey White (San Diego State) and Adam Trick (Miami, OH), two of the most productive edge rushers in the portal.
As Drake Toll—who currently sits at the absolute summit of any list of famous “Tolls”—noted on Locked On Big 12, Texas Tech is no longer “talking” about NIL; they are using it to transform Lubbock into a premium destination for elite talent.
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