Texas Tech football adds Beavers DT JoJo Johnson from transfer portal

Among the dozen opponents the Texas Tech football team steamrolled this season was Oregon State , and the Red Raiders will go on the road to play the Beavers next year.

Between now and then, JoJo Johnson will swap uniforms.

Johnson was a sophomore defensive tackle for Oregon State this season, and he joined the Red Raiders' transfer-portal class on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Tech announced he had signed an athletic scholarship agreement.

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Johnson, listed by Oregon State as 6-foot-2 and 288 pounds, got into 11 games this season. He was credited with 18 tackles, including 6 1/2 tackles for loss, an interception and a team-high 8 quarterback hurries.

Johnson, born in the West African nation of Guinea, was a Utah Class 5A first-team all-state honoree in high school at Salt Lake City Olympus. He signed with Oregon State in 2023. He redshirted that year and made five tackles in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2024.

The Red Raiders beat the Beavers 45-14 on Sept. 13 at Jones AT&T Stadium. Tech finished the season 12-2, all 12 of its victories coming by more than 21 points.

What Oregon State transfer defensive tackle JoJo Johnson brings to Texas Tech football

Johnson played high-school football in Utah and Brigham Young's backyard, but wasn't offered a scholarship by either, according to recruiting services. His offers came from Group of Five schools and Oregon State, where he's spent the past three years developing. He blossomed on a bad team this season, showing some explosiveness and playmaking ability on the interior.

He'll slot into Texas Tech's rotation of defensive tackles, likely in a significant role.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football adds Beavers DT JoJo Johnson from transfer portal