BLOCKBUSTER: McGuire’s NIL Shockwave — Texas Tech Stuns Texas & Ohio State, Lands 5-Star Felix Ojo in Record $5.1M Deal

In one of the boldest recruiting moves in recent memory, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has flipped the college football world on its head. The Red Raiders have pulled off a historic coup, securing the commitment of 5-star defensive end Felix Ojo in a record-setting $5.1 million NIL package — a deal that not only shattered precedent but also delivered a massive blow to national powerhouses Texas and Ohio State, who were both seen as heavy favorites to land the elite recruit.

For months, Ojo — a 6’5”, 260-pound edge rusher out of Houston, Texas — had been courted relentlessly by the biggest names in college football. Ohio State offered pedigree. Texas offered legacy. But in the end, it was McGuire’s vision, the aggressive NIL collective in Lubbock, and the promise of immediate impact that sealed the deal.

The reverberations from Ojo’s commitment are being felt coast to coast. Texas Tech, often seen as a second-tier program in the state’s crowded college football landscape, has now made a statement that demands respect: they are willing and able to play with the big boys — and win.

Ojo’s deal, according to multiple sources close to the program, includes multi-year NIL endorsements, regional ad campaigns, a guaranteed appearance fee schedule, and a performance-based bonus structure that incentivizes All-American selections and team playoff appearances. It’s the largest known NIL package ever offered to a high school defensive player.

In his commitment video — posted on social media with a cinematic flair and dramatic background music — Ojo stated plainly: “This is where I can build my legacy. This is where I can change the game. I’m a Red Raider.”

Insiders say McGuire personally recruited Ojo with relentless energy, selling him not just on NIL, but on culture, development, and trust. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter reportedly laid out a three-year plan for Ojo that included starter reps as a freshman, specialized pass-rush packages, and a developmental pipeline to the NFL that mimics the path of stars like Myles Garrett.

The Longhorns were stunned. After hosting Ojo for multiple visits and having close ties through Texas high school football circuits, insiders assumed they had a lock on the rising star. Likewise, Ohio State had made Ojo a centerpiece of its 2025 defensive class, with multiple assistants reportedly making private visits over the past six months.

Now, both programs are scrambling to reset their recruiting boards — while Texas Tech celebrates what many are calling the biggest recruiting win in school history.

Within hours of the announcement, Red Raider Nation exploded on social media. Memes mocking the Longhorns’ recruiting budget and Buckeye Twitter’s stunned silence quickly went viral. Lubbock boosters have responded with a wave of celebratory donations to the Matador Club, the university’s leading NIL collective, ensuring McGuire will have continued firepower to chase future stars.

With NIL transforming the recruiting landscape, McGuire’s boldness could signal a larger trend: middle-tier programs weaponizing their donor bases and collectives to compete with traditional blue-bloods.

By offering both financial opportunity and a strong development plan, Texas Tech has turned a dream into a reality for one of the most coveted defensive players in the country. Ojo’s arrival also sends a powerful message to other recruits: you don’t need to play in Columbus or Austin to be a superstar — you can do it in Lubbock.