Joey McGuire was lauded as a brilliant out-of-the-box hire for the Texas Tech Red Raiders due to his stature as a renowned Texas high school football coach. He found early success targeting players from the Lone Star State, but even in a state as large and talented as Texas, he struggled to build depth.
McGuire has altered his approach in the December transfer portal window. This shifting philosophy is paying early dividends. Could it turn the Red Raiders into a Big 12 frontrunner?
Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech Red Raiders Taking National Approach in Transfer Portal
McGuire’s Red Raiders have some serious home-state flair. In fact, 97 Texas Tech players went to high school in the Lone Star State. It’s a deep state with plenty of talent, and few have the connections to the high school scene that McGuire does. McGuire was 142-42 in 14 years at Cedar Hill High School in Dallas.
When he was hired, McGuire vowed to turn the state of Texas into a talent factory for the Red Raiders. It worked initially, as McGuire’s first two classes were each ranked inside the top 30. In those high school classes, the Red Raiders took three players from outside of Texas.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
But their 2025 class is ranked 39th nationally. They landed just three of the top 50 players from Texas and none inside the top 20. That put pressure on the Red Raiders’ transfer class, a group currently ranked as the best class in the country.
One of the Red Raiders’ 17 transfers went to high school in Texas. Only one other is transferring from a Texas college.
In total, just five players (29.4%) have any real connection to Texas. Texas Tech has taken more transfers from outside of Texas than in the rest of McGuire’s classes combined.
What McGuire’s Change in Philosophy Means for the Red Raiders
I’m a fan of McGuire’s. Texas Tech went with a guy who was unashamed about utilizing his connections to keep talented players in the state. It’s worked, as he’s put together three straight winning seasons. However, his willingness to adapt, especially in the portal, is enormous.
It proves the Red Raiders are well-situated from a Name, Image, and Likeness standpoint. Not only does their collective have them in the running for elite players, but there’s enough in the coffers to sign top players.
McGuire is landing top transfers by selling the program, not just the opportunity to play for a coach who knows the Texas high school football scene.
If McGuire can continue landing impact transfers from across the country, the Red Raiders will be a contender in a wide-open Big 12. That’s exactly where McGuire wants to be.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
