New head coach Joey McGuire and Texas Tech have brought in 13 transfers so far this offseason, and more might be on the way.
The Red Raiders rank No. 35 in 247Sports’ current transfer portal rankings, making them the fifth-highest Big 12 school behind Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, and Kansas.
Texas Tech has lost seven players to the transfer portal, including quarterback Henry Colombi to Marshall. Others like quarterback Maverick McIvor and defensive lineman Devin Drew have yet to find a home. Nevertheless, McGuire and Co. have done well to replace what they’ve lost.
Here’s a look at each transfer:
Monroe Mills
Mills, a 6-foot-7, 291-pound offensive lineman, comes from Big 12 foe Oklahoma State. He spent two seasons with the Cowboys, playing in just two games.
Mills was a three-star recruit out of Father Tolton High School in Colombia, Missouri. He missed his entire senior season with a torn ACL after committing to OSU in August 2019. Mills entered the portal on Jan. 4 before committing to Tech on Jan. 10. He will play tackle next season as a redshirt sophomore.
Brady Boyd
Boyd, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver, arrives from Minnesota. He played 170 total snaps for the Golden Gophers last season, catching two passes for 18 yards.
Boyd was a three-star recruit out of Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. He took an unofficial visit to Texas Tech in January 2020 before committing to Minnesota in April 2020. An existing relationship with McGuire and wide receivers coach Emmett Jones played a crucial role in his decision to come to Lubbock.
“So Coach (Emmett) Jones, I’ve known him for probably two years now after he recruited me at Kansas. After I hit the portal, we kinda rekindled,” said Boyd back in December. “Coach (Joey) McGuire, I’ve known him for as long as I can remember. He coached with my dad when he was at Cedar Hill and I remember I used to stay the night at his house in elementary school. He’s just an awesome guy.”
Boyd caught 70 passes for 1,120 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Southlake Carroll. He committed to Tech on Dec. 14 after entering the portal on Dec. 9. Boyd will be a sophomore next season.
Michael Shanahan
Shanahan, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman, transfers from Tennessee-Martin. He was a two-year starter for the Skyhawks before entering the portal, helping lead them to the second round of the FCS Playoffs last season.
Shanahan received First-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and was named an FCS sophomore All-American by HERO Sports last season. He committed to Tech on Jan. 16 after entering the portal on Dec. 6. Shanahan will play tackle for the Red Raiders.
Jacob Rodriguez
Rodriguez, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete, arrives from Virginia. He played snaps as both a rusher and a pass-catcher for the Cavaliers last season, recording 10 carries for 56 rushing yards and eight catches for 65 receiving yards.
Rodriguez played quarterback at S.H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, throwing for 3,003 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushing for 1,247 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was a three-star recruit and received an offer from Texas Tech before committing to Virginia in April 2020.
Rodriguez entered the portal on Dec. 3 before transferring to Tech on Jan. 12. The now-sophomore is expected to play linebacker as a Red Raider.
Cade Briggs
Briggs, a 6-foot-4, 287-pound offensive lineman, transfers from New Mexico. He started 24 games in three seasons as a Lobo.
Briggs recorded Pro Football Focus grades of 71.4 and 73.8 in 2020 and 2021 respectively. He turned in a 95.2 pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2020. Briggs entered the portal on Nov. 29 and committed to Tech on Dec. 19, where he will play at guard. He has two years of eligibility remaining plus a redshirt year.
Dimitri Moore
Moore, a 6-foot-3, 208-pound linebacker, comes from Missouri State. He has FBS experience, playing three seasons at Vanderbilt from 2018 to 2020.
As a Commodore, Moore made the SEC’s All-Freshman team in 2018. In 2019, he finished top 10 in the SEC for tackles with 99, adding three defended passes. He only played one game for Missouri State last season.
Moore played under McGuire at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas, where he was a three-star recruit. His brother, 2022 three-star cornerback Jalon Peoples, committed to Tech in November 2021. Moore entered the portal on Nov. 24 before committing to Tech that same day. He will play for the Red Raiders as a fifth-year senior.
Jordan Brown
Brown, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound wide receiver, arrives from Kansas. He played three games in two seasons as a Jayhawk, recording just one catch for four yards.
Brown was recruited by Jones at Kansas and received a walk-on spot in 2020. He entered the portal on Nov. 8 before committing to Tech on Dec. 17.
Tyler Owens
Owens, a 6-foot-2, 204-pound safety, comes from rival Texas. He played in 24 games as a Longhorn, starting one contest against TCU in 2019.
Owens recorded 13 tackles and one pass defended in three seasons at UT. The former five-star recruit entered the portal on Oct. 15 before committing to Tech on Nov. 24.
Blake Bedwell
Bedwell, a 5-foot-10, 187-pound running back, transfers from SMU. He played just one game last season for the Mustangs, rushing for 20 yards on four carries against Abilene Christian.
The Amarillo, Texas native will have all four years of eligibility remaining. He announced his commitment to Tech on Jan. 6.
Hayden Wiginton
Wiginton, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound wide receiver, comes from Oklahoma State. He played just one season as a Cowboy before transferring.
The Midlothian, Texas native will have all four years of eligibility remaining. He announced his commitment to Tech on Jan. 5.
Drew Hocutt
Hocutt, the son of TTU athletic director Kirby Hocutt, is a 6-foot-0, 190-pound wide receiver. He arrives from Angelo State, where he spent the last two seasons. In 2021, he caught five passes for 80 yards in four games.
Hocutt played at Frenship High School in Wolfforth, Texas, earning unanimous First-team All-District honors as a senior after catching 59 passes for 947 yards and nine touchdowns. Tech announced his commitment on Feb. 2.
Dennis Willburn
Willburn, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive lineman, arrives from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He spent his first two seasons in Division II at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Willburn started 10 games for the Javelinas in 2019 before playing 11 games in two seasons at Hutchinson. He was a part of the team that won the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in 2020-21, a season where he became an NJCAA All-American. Willburn committed to Tech on Jan. 8 and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
James Grando
Grando, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker, is Tech’s second JUCO transfer. The Arlington, Texas native comes from Cisco Junior College in Cisco, Texas.
Grando received just one Division I offer from Illinois State out of Lamar High School. At Cisco, he recorded 19 tackles and one fumble recovery in two seasons, playing 15 total games. Tech announced his commitment on Feb. 2.
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