On the Pitch
Texas Tech soccer downed Denver, 4-0, with goals by Emma Torres, Sophie Neves, Kaitlyn Giametta, and Taylor Zdrojewski. This was just an exhibition match and the real matches start on the 14th against San Diego State.
On the Gridiron
Outside linebacker LaDamion Guyton (6’3″/240) of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, of the 2027 class has committed to Texas Tech. Guyton is the No. 2 rated player nationally according to Rivals/On3 and No. 4 player in the nation according to 24/7 Sports. As a sophomore Guyton had 52 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks in just 9 games at Savannah Christian (he’s transferred to Benedictine). And Benedictine is the same school as Texas Tech commit Stephen Cannon. Guyton’s top 4 was Texas Tech, Tennessee, Florida State, and Georgia.
Recruiting Profiles: On3 and 24/7 Sports.
These high-ranking commits don’t feel real to me. Not that Texas Tech isn’t good enough, but rather, 2027 is a long ways away, Guyton hasn’t even played his junior year of football yet and so much could happen between now and then. Does the commit sign a contract now or do they wait? Is a commitment any more or less binding until a deal is signed? Just lots of questions about how this all works. Regardless, I am happy to ruffle feathers from any and all programs that have issues with what Texas Tech is doing.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Sam Kahn, and Manny Navarro have the top 100 transfers and I think 9 Red Raiders made the list:
3. Edge David Bailey, Stanford → Texas Tech
18. OL Howard Sampson, North Carolina → Texas Tech
20. DL Lee Hunter, UCF → Texas Tech
Hunter provides the type of disruptive interior defensive line presence that Texas Tech needs. He was a second-team All-Big 12 pick in 2024 and compiled 20 1/2 tackles for loss in the last two seasons. He moves well for a 320-pounder and hit 16.5 mph on the GPS this spring, according to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. He was one of the first significant portal acquisitions in Texas Tech’s big offseason. “Lee Hunter changes this building,” McGuire said.
36. TE Terrance Carter, Louisiana → Texas Tech
49. WR Reggie Virgil, Miami (Ohio) → Texas Tech
53. Edge Romello Height, Georgia Tech → Texas Tech
79. DB Brice Pollock, Mississippi State → Texas Tech
90. OL Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State → Texas Tech
95. DB Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State → Texas Tech
Robert Giovannetti and Joey McGuire on the next episode of What’s Next.
ESPN’s David Hale puts all 136 FBS teams in tiers with Texas Tech in Tier 5: So hot right now along with Illinois, Louisville, and Utah.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Don Williams on third-string quarterback Mitch Griffis helping build the culture at Texas Tech:
“He is such a great person for this culture,” McGuire said on Tuesday, Aug. 5, the Red Raiders’ first day of full-pads practice. “He stood up and talked to the team the other day. About four days ago, it was a full calendar year that he was out of football, working construction.
“It was all about appreciating what we get to do every day, because he got up for a year at 2 a.m. and worked from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. working construction and pouring concrete. As hard as this (college football) seems at times, he said, ‘You need to appreciate it because it’s a lot more fun to play football than pour concrete.’ “
Not that Griffis was badmouthing those doing the manual labor.
“He tipped his hat to all the construction workers doing everything that they do,” McGuire said, “but he’d much rather be playing football, and he made them appreciate it.”
On the Hardwood
The Field of 68 guys give Texas Tech an A- for their offseason. I think that’s fair and Terrence Oglesby just loves Christian Anderson (who wouldn’t?).
Texas Tech basketball officially announces the signing of guard Jaylen Petty.