If Joey McGuire has become known for anything in his first three years as Texas Tech football coach, it’s his effervescent personality and how it’s benefited the Red Raiders on the recruiting front.
McGuire signed top-30 recruiting classes in each of the past two years. The 247Sports’ composite index ranked Texas Tech’s haul No. 28 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big 12 for the class of 2023 and No. 25 in the country and No. 1 among continuing Big 12 teams for the class of 2024.
It’s the best a Tech staff has fared in back-to-back years since 2011 and 2012.
The bad news: Even with the Red Raiders at 8-4, their best regular-season record in 15 years, they’re likely to finish outside the top 30 this year. Part of that’s because of a relatively small class by necessity.
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As of late Monday, the Avalanche-Journal projected Tech to be 18 players over the anticipated 105-man roster limit for 2025, assuming terms of the House v. NCAA court case settlement are approved in April. That’s taking into account 93 players with eligibility remaining, four seniors who could return on medical hardship waivers, 16 commitments from high-school recruits and McGuire’s plan to add 10 from the NCAA transfer portal that opens next week.
The Red Raiders’ high-school pledges can sign starting Wednesday. McGuire said last week the class could grow to 18 if the right players say yes.
Here’s how recruiting services rank the Texas Tech football class
247Sports: No. 54 in the nation, No. 11 in the Big 12
On3: No. 42 in the nation, No. 6 in the Big 12
Rivals: No. 63 in the nation, No. 14 in the Big 12
ESPN (only 50 teams ranked): Not among top 50 in the nation, not among top eight in the Big 12
Here’s how recruiting services rank Texas Tech football commitments
∎ Lloyd Jones III, 6-4, 210, QB, Hitchcock: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 54 in Texas, No. 402 in nation
∎ Tristian Gentry, 6-0, 165, WR, Stephenville: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 46 in Texas, No. 322 in nation
∎ Leyton Stone, 6-2, 170, WR, Frenship: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 94 in Texas, No. 668 in nation
∎ Michael Dever, 6-2, 175, WR, Lubbock-Cooper: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 57 in Texas, No. 406 in nation
∎ Bryson Jones, 6-2, 175, WR, Frisco Lone Star: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 53 in Texas, No. 396 in nation
∎ Preztynn Harrison, 6-5, 214, WR-TE, Mineral Wells: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 76 in Texas, No. 549 in nation
∎ Danilo Guberinich, 6-5, 280, OL, Detroit (Mich.) Catholic Central: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 27 in Michigan, No. 1,341 in nation
∎ Patrick McMath, 6-4, 255, OL, Katy: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 199 in Texas, No. 1,319 in nation
∎ Garin Maley, 6-5, 250, OL, Papillion-La Vista, Neb.: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 10 in Nebraska, No. 1,312 in nation
∎ Elias Gillen, 6-5, 295, OL, Rapid City (S.D.) Stevens: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 2 in South Dakota, No. 1,053 in nation
∎ Ren Brown, 6-6, 270, OL, Stanton, Neb.: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 12 in Nebraska, No. 1,512 in nation
∎ Dylan Singleton, 6-4, 280, DT, Loreauville, La.: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 41 in Louisiana, No. 1,425 in nation
∎ Brock Golwas, 6-1, 215, ILB, Flower Mound Marcus: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 110 in Texas, No. 735 in nation
∎ Michael Henderson III, 5-9, 185, DB, Wylie East: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 189 in Texas, No. 1,238 in nation
∎ Deante Lindsey, 6-1, 165, DB, Ada, Okla.: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 15 in Oklahoma, No. 899 in nation
∎ Braylan McDonald, 5-11, 185, DB, Lancaster: 247Sports composite rankings: No. 216 in Texas, No. 1,425 in nation
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