Texas Tech Red Raiders: Incoming Transfers Head to Lubbock In Hopes of Improvement Coming to Tech in 2025
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have made a bit of an impression this off-season with their use of the transfer portal. Currently, Texas Tech sits as the third highest-ranked transfer class in 247 Sports’ 2025 Transfer Football Team Rankings. They trail only behind SEC teams Ole Miss and LSU.
Notably, the Red Raiders are ahead of everyone else nationally when it comes to four-star incoming transfers coming to Lubbock this off-season. As of right now, 11 four-star rated players are currently committed to Texas Tech. The only other teams with a higher-ranking transfer class, LSU and Ole Miss, have 10 four-star transfers each.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Incoming Transfers
Texas Tech is coming off a record of 8-5 overall for the 2024 season (6-3 in conference). The Red Raiders lost 39-26 to finish their 2024 season against Arkansas in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Tech Looks to the Portal For Help Up Front
The Red Raiders were essentially “middle of the road” in 2024 when it came to sacks allowed compared to other FBS teams nationally. The Raiders did, however, signal their awareness of needing to improve themselves up front when they acquired Hunter Zambrano from the transfer portal. Zambrano was the No. 1 ranked interior offensive lineman in the portal this past winter.
Zambrano went into his 2024 season having been graded by NFL scouts as draftable. However, Zambrano’s 2024 season was cut short at Illinois State due to injury.
The Red Raiders also made further moves in the portal this past winter to bolster their offensive line. Tech’s addition of Howard Sampson off the portal will add experience to their offensive line. Sampson’s presence will bring three years of experience that were split between his time at UNT and North Carolina.
Sampson’s 2024 season at North Carolina featured him playing in an impressive 12 straight starts for the Tarheels. While the addition of Sampson does not look as impressive on paper compared to Zambrano’s, the Red Raiders will gain an experienced and durable offensive lineman.
The Raiders Opt for Experience From the Transfer Portal
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Red Raiders weren’t shy about making moves in the portal either with their addition of Lee Hunter, a four-star transfer pickup.
Hunter will bring a veteran presence to Tech’s defensive line with proven Big 12 experience as he comes off a full season of steady playtime at UCF.
Tech also secured another veteran four-star defensive transfer from Georgia Tech, Romello Height. Height brings with him five seasons of experience across the SEC, Pac-12, and ACC.
Tech has also capitalized on a four-star transfer wide receiver, Reggie Virgil from Miami University (OH). Virgil brings with him three seasons of experience with a respectable overall performance in 2024 where he recorded 816 receiving yards.
