Texas Tech's 2028 Commit Could Form Elite OT Duo
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LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech will soon have two blue-chip offensive tackles, but only one, of course, can man the coveted and incredibly important left side.
Still, the potential 2028 duo of Felix Ojo and Austin Attalah is worth getting excited about … just as long as they are both used at the same time.
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Tech received a commitment from the top-10-ranked prospect Attalah this week. This past cycle, the Red Raiders welcomed 5-star tackle Felix Ojo, who became the program's highest-rated offensive recruit ever.
"When I visited Tech back in June, I knew that's where I wanted to be," Attalah said, showing his firm pledge still over a year until he can sign in the early window. "I spent two days on campus and really liked it a lot. I loved the coaching staff and the commitment to the football program is very strong."
Attalah stands at 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds. He profiles as a potential starting left tackle during his time in Lubbock.
But that's only if Ojo doesn't have anything to say about it.
By the time we get to 2028, Ojo will have spent two seasons with the Red Raiders (though even that sounds like asking for a lot considering how frequent players change schools). This season, the highly-touted prospect will be head coach Joey McGuire's second-string left tackle behind senior captain Howard Sampson.
In 2027, Ojo will compete for that starting job. If he earns it, he'll then have to defend his position going into 2028 when the next top prospect enters his room.
For Tech, it's a great problem to have as two skilled and physical linemen make up the same unit, and could still be used simultaneously if one is asked to move to the right side.
Ojo is listed at 6-6 and 295 pounds. Early assessments of him are split, but his place behind Sampson on the current depth chart means he is being given an opportunity to prove himself on the outside. Ojo will have time to develop during his true freshman season ahead of the starting opportunities that await him.
Attalah – Tech's first-class of 2028 commitment – will likely be on a similar timeline, but his freshman season will be our first opportunity to see the two cornerstone pieces on the field together.
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The rest of the Red Raiders' offensive tackle room includes redshirt sophomore Jacob Ponton, who will start opposite of Sampson this season, and redshirt sophomore Ellis Davis and redshirt freshman Elias Gillen. On the 2027 recruiting circuit, Tech has a commitment from 3-star tackle Dontae Perkins.
Recruiting is just as much about building pipelines as it is about building around individual players. Texas Tech has now added multiple long-term tackle prospects on top the group they already have. Every new tackle commit narrows the number of tackle reps to go around.
If Ojo's frame settles into more of a guard build, or if the staff simply runs out of tackle spots to give him, guard could also become his path to the field faster than fighting through the depth chart.
The Red Raiders' skill-position recruiting is elite in the next cycle, with quarterback Kavian Bryant, running back SaRod Baker and receivers Benny Easter Jr. and Julian Caldwell.
The conversation around the offensive line anchoring that offense will be an exciting one in the coming years.
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