Texas Tech football's biggest transfer portal needs, targets for 2026

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The Texas Tech football team is left wondering what more it could have done to have a better showing in its first College Football Playoff appearance.

Luckily, the Red Raiders have made a habit of striking while the iron’s hot. They’ll now try to rebuild the team for 2026 through the transfer portal, where there are a few obvious needs for head coach Joey McGuire and the team.

Here’s a primer on which positions the Texas Tech football team should focus on in the transfer portal and which players in the portal the Red Raiders could target to fill those voids.

Texas Tech football’s biggest needs out of the transfer portal for 2026

Defensive linemen

Specifically, EDGE rushers to help make up for the departures of David Bailey and Romello Height, who will have exhausted their eligibility. Interior linemen Lee Hunter and Skyler Gill-Howard will also be departing this offseason.

Quarterback

With Will Hammond shelved through most of 2026 rehabbing his knee injury suffered in late October, the Red Raiders will need a veteran quarterback who can fill the void left by Hammond and the departing Behren Morton.

Receivers

This one depends on how the judge rules in the lawsuit surrounding the five-year eligibility timeframe currently before the courts. As it stands, Texas Tech returns just Coy Eakin from its starting receiver trio, losing Reggie Virgil and Caleb Douglas.

Tight end

Terrance Carter Jr. told reporters after the Orange Bowl he’ll be back with the Red Raiders next season, which would be a huge boost. Still, they’ll need to find a replacement for the steady Johncarlos Miller II and depth behind Carter at the position.

Offensive line

Texas Tech’s needs up front on offense could be big or minimal, depending on whether Hunter Zambrano gets the medical hardship waiver to return next season. If he does, he could easily slide into one of the starting guard positions with Tech losing Will Jados and Davion Carter to graduation. Tackle Howard Sampson could also declare for the NFL Draft.

Potential transfer portal targets for the Texas Tech football

Quarterback: Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

Sorsby is the top-rated available quarterback in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports (as of Dec. 30). He passed for 2,800 yards and 27 TDs with five interceptions this season, adding 580 yards and 9 TDs on the ground. His girlfriend, Gretchen Sigman, recently signed with the Texas Tech volleyball team.

Receiver: Cam Coleman, Auburn

The top-rated defensive player in the transfer portal at 247Sports, Coleman is the prize of the class. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound receiver caught 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 and had 8 TD grabs in 2024.

EDGE: Chaz Coleman, Penn State

A four-star prospect out of high school, Coleman played sparingly for the Nittany Lions in his true freshman season but came on strong with eight tackles a sack and a forced fumble in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.

Receiver: Jayce Brown, Kansas State

Brown was the only true offensive weapon for Kansas State this season, being Avery Johnson’s go-to receiver much of the year. He totaled 712 yards and 5 TDs on 41 catches, adding another 116 rushing yards.

Tight end: Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State

Brahmer could very well be headed to Penn State along with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, but Brahmer had 37 catches for 446 yards and six touchdowns this past season for the Cyclones, so he’s worth a check-in if anything.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: What does Texas Tech football need out of the transfer portal in 2026?

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