Joey McGuire gives Signing Day shoutouts to Big 12’s top class
Texas Tech and head coach Joey McGuire signed 20 high school prospects Wednesday, landing the Big 12’s top 2026 recruiting class. Rather than holding a signing day press conference, Tech opted to offer quotables from McGuire on each of the signess. Here are some of the highlights…
McGuire speaks highly of 5-star tandem
No surprise here, but of course, the head coach was fired up for the pair of 5-stars he and his staff were able to sign. When LaDamion Guyton and Felix Ojo put pen-to-paper, it put the Red Raiders in rare air as one of eight schools to sign multiple 5-star talents. Guyton, who’s the Rivals Industry No. 12 overall player in the class, reminds McGuire of a current dominator in the trenches.
“He reclassified. He was the No. 1 player in the country in the 2027 class and has now moved into the 2026 class,” McGuire said in a signing day release from Tech Athletics. “Top 10 in the country. What he looks like already, and I’m not kidding, he looks like Romello Height right now, that’s the body type. Extremely twitchy. I went and watched him and the whole game plan was don’t run to him; they ran away from him.”
Ojo, the No. 14 player in the class, projects to potentially make a more immediate impact than Guyton. The Mansfield Lake Ridge product will be one of 17 who enroll early at Tech. Ojo’s commitment on July 4 continued to move the needle for the Red Raiders in the recruiting realm. HIs impact there is thought to eventually translate on the field.
“Felix is one of the most athletic linemen that I have ever watched on film,” McGuire said. “You’re talking about one of the most recruited athletes in the nation. A 5-star that is No. 1 in the state of Texas. I feel like he’ll make an impact early, one of the guys that you would expect to be a left tackle for the Red Raiders for a long time.”
Texas Tech’s Boss-level defensive backs
The Red Raiders’ adds in the secondary from this high school class are impressive. Defensive back recruiting has been a strong suit for this staff and that trend continued in ‘26.
S’Vioarean Martin, out of Palestine, was highly-sought after by Kansas State, but Texas Tech came away with his pledge and his signature.
“Just call him, Boss. You’re talking about a really long, athletic corner that can flat-out run. He is a little bit like what we had a couple of years ago with Malik (Dunlap) and Rayshad (Williams) as far as a 6-2 corner.”
The Red Raiders snatched away Frisco Panther Creek 3-star safety Donovan Webb from the likes of Notre Dame and Michigan. Versatility is less of a characteristic and more so a requirement to play in the secondary at Tech. McGuire feels Webb embodies this.
“You’re talking about another guy who can play multiple positions. He could play wide receiver or running back,” McGuire said. “He had multiple touchdowns where he played running back or receiver, and then went over and intercepted the ball and returned it. Donovan could grow into a STAR, and is physical. He reminds me a lot of B.J. Jordan, a guy that can run sideline to sideline, and is a great tackler.”
McGuire sheds light on blue-chip playmakers
Much like the defensive backs, the Red Raiders and wide receivers coach Juice Johnson have been on a tear recruiting pass catchers. There was none greater in this class than Frenship’s own Chase Campbell. Electric with the ball in his hands, Campbell’s frame and natural instincts give him a great chance to get action next season.
“Chase is a dynamic playmaker. I would be shocked if he is not playing for us at a really high level, really early. He’s long, and can go get the football, a lot like Leyton (Stone), absolutely incredible ball skills, and can absolutely run.”
Texas Tech was able to follow up the program’s all-time leading rusher Tahj Brooks with Cam Dickey and J’Koby Williams, who tore up the Big 12 this season. First-year RBs coach Garret McGuire added a valuable weapon to his room, Ace Rowden. Another exciting addition with film to back it up.
“He’s out of the 903… Beast Texas. Very big physical back that’s already over 200 pounds. He’s going to fit right in. The great thing is we’ve got such a strong room, like what Tahj did with the team, J’Koby and Cam and all those guys, will really be able to grow him up.”
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