Texas Tech football 2026 transfer portal tracker — Austin Romaine commits

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Texas Tech football 2026 transfer portal tracker — Austin Romaine commits

Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal · Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Sat, Jan 3, 2026 ·

8 min read

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The Texas Tech football team will once again try to load up on talent through the transfer portal after the Red Raiders ' highly successful run through the 2025 college football season.

Last year saw the Red Raiders go hard at top-tier players in the portal , which brought in the likes of David Bailey, Lee Hunter, Terrance Carter Jr. and Brice Pollock. The moves made by head coach Joey McGuire and the NIL funds provided by Cody Campbell pushed Texas Tech to the Big 12 Conference championship and an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history .

This year's transfer portal is down to just one window for players to join new teams or leave their current squads. It opens on Jan. 2 and closes again Jan. 16. Players have until Jan. 16 to enter the portal and can pick their new teams at any time after submitting their names.

Keep tabs on all of Texas Tech's transfer portal activity right here.

*NOTE: Academic years reflect the player's standing during 2026 football season

Players joining Texas Tech football through the transfer portal

Julien Lavenutre, Defensive Tackle, Senior, 6-foot-1, 270 pounds

Laventure's commitment was reported by On3 on Jan. 4. Spent one year at Akron, where he was a second team all-MAC selection with 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss of yardage and four sacks. Spent three years at Division II PennWest California before.

Brendan Sorsby, Quarterback, Senior, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

Sorbsy's commitment was reported by ESPN on Jan. 4. The expected move came with Sorsby meeting with the Red Raiders and LSU over the weekend. Passed for 2,800 yards and ran for at least 500 yards with 9 TDs each of the last two seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Has one year of eligibility left.

Donte Lee, Receiver, Redshirt Senior, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds

Lee's commitment was reported by On3 on Jan. 4. Spent the last two years at Liberty, totaling 32 catches for 589 yards and 5 TDs in 2025. Began his career at Division II Shaw University, where he spent two years.

Jalen Jones, Receiver, Redshirt Junior, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds

Jones's commitment was reported by On3 on Jan. 4. Named an HBCU All-American this past season after catching 51 passes for 1,167 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025. Has two years of eligibility remaining.

Austin Romaine, Linebacker, Senior, 6-foot-2, 245 pounds

Romaine announced his commitment to Texas Tech on Jan. 4. He'll have one year of eligibility left plus a redshirt, if necessary. Shared the 2023 Big 12 defensive freshman of the year award along with new teammate Ben Roberts. Has 184 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his career.

Players who announced returns to Texas Tech football

Not every player will make a public announcement about their return. Below are those who have publicly pledged a return to the Red Raiders in 2026.

Howard Sampson, LT, Senior:Sampson started all 14 games at left tackle for the Red Raiders after transferring last season from North Carolina. Announced his return on Jan. 4.

Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Senior: Carter was fourth on the team in receiving and led the team in receptions and yards in the Orange Bowl. Told reporters after the Oregon game he'd return then made it official on Jan. 2 .

Lloyd Jones III, QB, Redshirt-Freshman:Jones spent much of the year as the third- or fourth-string quarterback but expected to be up the depth chart next season as Will Hammond recovers from a knee injury. Posted his "Run It Back" graphic on Dec. 29 .

Players leaving Texas Tech football through the transfer portal

Cheta Ofili, Outside Linebacker, Redshirt Sophomore, 6-foot-4, 240 pounds

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported Cheta Ofili's entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 4. Appeared in 10 games this season as a backup after appearing in one contest in 2024. Recorded two tackles.

Trey Jackson, Tight end, Redshirt Sophomore, 6-foot-5, 240 pounds

Trey Jackson was confirmed as a transfer portal entrant on Jan. 3 by a Tech spokesman. He played in two games last season and all 14 this season but recorded no statistics.

Mitch Griffis, Quarterback, Super Senior, 6-foot, 195 pounds

Mitch Griffis announced on X (formerly Twitter) his entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 2 with one year of eligibility remaining. Came out of football retirement to join Tech in 2025, playing mostly in mop-up duty and for injuries.

Deante Lindsay, Cornerback, Redshirt Freshman, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds

Deante Lindsay announced on X (formerly Twitter) his entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 2. Did not take the field in his true freshman. Was a consensus three-star recruit in 2025 class.

Tyson Turner, Wide Receiver, Sophomore, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

Tyson Turner announced on X (formerly Twitter) his entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 2. Saw action in 13 games before the Orange Bowl, mostly on special teams. Has three years of eligibility left.

Braylon Rigsby, Outside Linebacker, Junior, 6-foot-2, 275 pounds

Braylon Rigsby announced on X (formerly Twitter) his entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 2. Appeared in 13 games prior to the Orange Bowl, including one start in 2025. Also played in 12 of 13 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2024.

Eddy Smith, Outside Linebacker, Redshirt Sophomore, 6-foot-6, 275 pounds

Eddy Smith announced he will be transferring from Texas Tech on Instagram on Jan. 2. Appeared in only four games in two years at Tech, including three this season

Maurion Horn, Cornerback, Senior, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

ESPN's Max Olson reported Maurion Horn's entry into the transfer portal on Jan. 2. Horn started all 13 games during the 2024 season but lost his starting spot in 2025. Appeared in seven games this year, starting the season opener.

Macho Stevenson, Cornerback, Junior, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds

Macho Stevenson announced his intention to transfer on Jan. 2 and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Appeared in 23 games the last two years primarily has a reserve but had three starts at cornerback in 2024.

T.J. West, Receiver, Junior, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

T.J. West announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 1 with two years of eligibility remaining. He appeared in six games this season, catching three passes for 24 yards.

Preztynn Harrison, Receiver, Freshman, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds

Preztynn Harrison announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 26 after not appearing in any games for the Red Raiders in 2025. He's a former three-star recruit with four years of eligibility remaining.

Kelby Valsin, Receiver, Junior, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds,

Kelby Valsin announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 26 with two years of eligibility remaining. The Arlington Bowie HS grad appeared in 12 games in 2024 after redshirting the 2023 season and appeared in all 13 games in 2025, mostly on special teams. Has three catches for 35 yards this season as the No. 2 slot receiver.

Justin Horne, Linebacker, Junior, 6-foot, 225 pounds

Horne announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 24. Saw a role increase during his redshirt sophomore season of 2024, appearing in 10 games overall before missing the final three games of the season with an injury that prevented him from appearing in any game in 2025.

Tanner Allen, Tight End/Defensive Line, 6-foot-3, 280 pounds

Tanner Allen announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 22. The Bryan native bounced between defensive line and tight end in his Red Raider career, appearing mostly on special teams. Has one year of eligibility left.

Price Morgan, Wide Receiver, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

Price Morgan announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 19 . He redshirted the 2024 season after spending two years at Central Missouri. Morgan appeared in two games this season, catching one pass for 12 yards.

Dylan Spencer, Defensive End, 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Junior

On3 reported on Dec. 19 that Dylan Spencer will enter the transfer portal. He is no longer on the Texas Tech roster for the 2025 season after he appeared in just three games, registering a pair of tackles. Showed potential as a true freshman in the 2023 season before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first preseason practice ahead of the 2024 season.

Upton Bellenfant, Kicker, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Senior

The final addition of last year's winter transfer portal cycle was the first to announce his departure on Dec. 11. Upton Bellenfant joined Texas Tech out of Buffalo last year but lost the starting kicker job to Stone Harrington midway through the year. Bellenfant was 6-for-6 on field goals and 14 of 16 on point-after kicks.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tracking Texas Tech football's 2026 transfer portal activity

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