Texas Tech picks up blue chip TE Matt Ludwig
Texas Tech has added to its 2026 recruiting class in a surprising fashion. Thought to be done with high school prospects, an opportunity arose that Joey McGuire, James Blanchard and staff couldn’t pass up.
When Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was fired on December 10th, that gave the opportunity for Michigan signees to open their recruitment. Billings (MT) West tight end Matt “Moose” Ludwig did just that before instead choosing to commit to the Red Raiders.
Ludwig, rated by Rivals as a 4-star prospect and the No. 199 player overall in his class, was a key target for Texas Tech in the 2026 cycle. He narrowed things down to a top four of Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas Tech before choosing the Wolverines in late May. He remained solid throughout, eventually signing with Michigan on December 3rd. With Moore’s departure however, Ludwig chose to look elsewhere.
Tech gets their guy
During his initial recruitment, Texas Tech put the full court press on the 6-foot-4, 245 pound prospect. Ludwig took multiple visits from Montana to Lubbock in June 2024, October 2024, and April 2025.
In addition, TE’s coach Josh Cochran and RB’s coach Garret McGuire did an in-home visit with Ludwig in January 2025, with Cochran and McGuire returning to Montana just a week later for one of Ludwig’s basketball games but this time also joined by OC Mack Leftwich, HC Joey McGuire, ST coordinator Kenny Perry and OL coach Clay McGuire.
“I mean it’s awesome to see them come up on a bye week to come get the opportunity to come see me play,” Ludwig previously told RedRaiderSports. “It was really cool to see Cochran at the game and to come watch me perform. It’s just awesome having that connection with Cochran that he goes out on the bye week to come see me play and come all the way up to Montana.
I mean, I love Coach Cochran. He’s an amazing coach. Love everything about him and Joey McGuire. His big pitch is really just that coaching staff is going to bring me in and really utilize me and make me feel loved at that place and that’s something I love to hear. It’s really awesome to know that he’s there at Texas Tech and potentially have the chance to play there.”
Ludwig was the primary – and only – tight end target for the coaches in the 2026 class. Once he signed with Michigan the thought was Texas Tech would go and add a tight end in the transfer portal. Even with Ludwig’s commitment, it’s possible the staff will still add a tight end who is more ready to play now.
Ludwig will join a tight ends room that includes Terrance Carter Jr., Sean Robinson, Trey Jackson and Jason Llewellyn with Johncarlos Miller II set to exhaust his eligibility following the 2025 season. Former walk-on Jack Esparza has eligibility remaining but walked on Senior Day, indicating he may not plan to return.
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