Joey McGuire and his Red Raiders have wasted zero time in reloading for another Big 12 run in 2026. Texas Tech currently holds the number 18 national ranking for its 2026 high school recruiting class. Two five‑star and six four‑star recruits headline the 21‑player group. However, very few—if any—project to contribute significantly in the 2026 season. With the bitter taste of a playoff defeat still very much present in the football operations building, the 2026 Texas Tech transfer portal class is beginning to take shape. As of 2 pm local time on Monday, the Red Raiders have received commitments from eight players, none bigger than quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
Unexpected QB Need
Texas Tech had its succession plan in place after Behren Morton left after the 2025 season. Quarterback Will Hammond was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Red Raider fans saw some of what the ceiling could look like under Hammond when he came in relief of Morton and thrived in a win over Utah earlier this season. However, Hammond suffered a torn ACL in late October against Oklahoma State. Even if Hammond were on the Adrian Peterson recovery timetable from a torn ACL— roughly eight months— he still wouldn’t be fully ready. At best, he would just be getting back to working out with the team for fall camp. The realistic time frame will have him missing at least the first part of the season.
As of today, the Red Raiders have a verbal commitment from one of the best high school quarterbacks for the 2027 class. But that left the 2026 season with a glaring need at quarterback. After reaching unprecedented heights in 2025, Texas Tech has made it clear it is no longer in the business of rebuilding. This 2026 Texas Tech transfer portal class is a clear signal to everyone that they will only be reloading for future conference titles and playoff runs. Sorsby was a quarterback many would have welcomed to their team, but ultimately it came down to LSU and Texas Tech before he made his final decision. The dual-threat quarterback finished with 36 total touchdowns (9 rushing) and 3,380 yards of total offense (580 rushing). A breakout season for Sorsby in 2026 could launch him into the first round of the 2027 NFL draft.
Targets Filling Needs
Sorsby will grab most of the headlines, including what he is reportedly going to be making this season. But the 2026 Texas Tech transfer portal class is not a one-trick pony. Sorsby is getting help out wide of Texas Tech secured commitments from Jalen Jones from Alabama State, and Donte Lee Jr from Liberty. Lee Jr. appears to be reinforcing the depth of the wide receiver room with proven production. Jones has been one of the more explosive FCS receivers in the last decade. In 2025, he averaged 4.42 yards per route run, which is top five at the FCS level in the last decade. Additionally, he averaged 14 yards after the reception last year. For context, when examining the yards per route run in the NFL, the top five receivers are Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Nijigba, Stefon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Last year’s transfer class was headlined by all of the defensive standouts, including David Bailey, Romello Height, and Lee Hunter, to name a few. They have already secured three commitments along the defensive line. San Diego State EDGE Trey White, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), has 90 QB pressures since 2024 (11th in all college football). Bryce Butler arrives from Washington, where he had 19 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery in 2025. Texas Tech gets some MACtion flair again, bringing over Julien Laventure from Akron, where he earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2025.
Additionally, the Red Raiders have reloaded their linebacker corps with the addition of Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025. They have also brought in UTSA cornerback Davin Martin, who allowed zero touchdowns across 248 coverage snaps (according to PFF).
2026 Texas Tech Transfer Portal Class Not Complete Yet
While the Red Raiders have made some early splashes, they have made it clear they aren’t done yet. Pete Thamel reported that Cam Coleman is expected to visit Texas Tech sometime this week. Coleman is the number one-ranked wide receiver in the portal. The Red Raiders aren’t considered the favorite at this moment. However, getting Sorsby to Lubbock should help strengthen any sales pitch for a receiver with first-round NFL draft potential. McGuire is on the record saying they planned to take between “eight and ten” players. That was the target range for the 2026 Texas Tech transfer portal class. Of course, that was a similar goal last year before they brought in a total of 21 new players. The Red Raiders will continue to remain one of the spotlight programs while the portal remains open.
Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
