Texas Tech Reloads With Top Transfer Portal Class

Red Raiders add several high-impact players, including a potential early NFL draft pick at QB

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Texas Tech enjoyed its best season in program history in 2025, winning the Big 12 championship and making its first College Football Playoff appearance. With little time to waste, the Red Raiders have reloaded their roster through the transfer portal, adding several high-impact players, including a potential early NFL draft pick at quarterback.

Why it matters

Texas Tech's strong 2025 season and subsequent transfer portal haul solidifies the program as an emerging power in the Big 12 and nationally. The addition of a potential high draft pick at QB gives the Red Raiders a chance to compete for a national championship in 2026.

The details

Headlining Texas Tech's transfer portal class is five-star quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who head coach Joey McGuire says could be a second-round NFL draft pick if he were to enter the draft right now. McGuire also discussed replacing several key NFL draft prospects, including running back David Bailey, linebacker Romello Height, and defensive lineman Lee Hunter, with other transfer portal additions who are expected to be drafted.

  • Texas Tech's 2025 season ended with a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl on January 1, 2026.
  • The 15-day transfer portal opened the day after Texas Tech's season ended.

The players

Brendan Sorsby

A five-star quarterback transfer who Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire says could be a second-round NFL draft pick.

Joey McGuire

The head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who discussed the team's transfer portal additions and expectations for the 2026 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He probably at the worst, third round, but there's a really good chance he's a second round draft pick if he's in the draft right now. He knows that. The reason he came back is to win the Big 12, win a national championship, have a great opportunity to win the Heisman, but also be the number one quarterback taken in the draft next year.”

— Joey McGuire, Head Coach (What's Next! podcast)

“Like, again, I have been guilty of hyping football teams, and I believe it, so the results maybe did not live up to the hype when I go back and look at the results of my second year. Not taking my hype, but taking the data that NFL scouts say we're going to have a large number of guys drafted in this draft. It has a chance to break the record of Red Raiders drafted in a draft, and there are actually potentially more draft picks on this current team right now.”

— Joey McGuire, Head Coach (What's Next! podcast)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Texas Tech's strong 2025 season and subsequent transfer portal haul solidifies the program as an emerging power in the Big 12 and nationally. The addition of a potential high draft pick at QB gives the Red Raiders a chance to compete for a national championship in 2026.