Texas Tech University Athletics
Signing Central: Tech reloading with transfer signees
January 06, 2026 | Football
Texas Tech is up to nine transfer signees as the Red Raiders are building another top portal class
LUBBOCK, Texas – After a historic season, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and his staff have already started to reload the Red Raider roster with numerous additions expected in the coming weeks out of the NCAA transfer portal.
Texas Tech received its first wave of official signings Tuesday morning when quarterback Brendan Sorsby, cornerback Davin Martin, wide receiver Donte Lee Jr., inside linebacker Austin Romaine and outside linebacker Trey White all put pen to paper with the Red Raiders. Additional signings are expected over the course of the week as Texas Tech is on pace to once again sign one of the nation's top transfer classes.
This webpage will be updated once each signing becomes official. Fans can keep up-to-date on the latest signings in real time by following @TexasTechFB on all social media platforms or by subscribing to mobile alerts through the Texas Tech mobile app.
Below is a rundown of each of Texas Tech's signings to this point.
TEXAS TECH TRANSFER PORTAL SIGNINGS Â
Bryce Butler – DL (Washington)
Mateen Ibirogba – DL (Wake Forest)
Jojo Johnson – DL (Oregon State)
Julien Laventure – DL (Akron)
Donte Lee Jr. – WR (Liberty)
Davin Martin – CB (UTSA)
Austin Romaine – LB (Kansas State)
Brendan Sorsby – QB (Cincinnati)
Trey White – OLB (San Diego State)
Mateen Ibirogba
DLÂ |Â 6-3Â |Â 295Â |Â Sr.
Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg High School  | Previous School: Wake Forest
Ibirogba is widely regarded as the top interior defensive lineman to enter the transfer portal this offseason after spending the last two seasons at Wake Forest. Ibirogba ranked as the No. 5 overall player in the transfer portal by ESPN, giving Texas Tech three top-15 signees thus far between the talented defensive lineman and quarterback Brendan Sorsby and edge rusher Trey White. Ibirogba was considered the top defensive lineman in the portal by both ESPN and On3 in their respective player rankings.
Pro Football Focus ranked Ibirogba as one of the top pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the country this past season with a 78.4 grade that ranked sixth among power conference players. The publication credited Ibirogba with 26 total pressures and awarded him a 77.3 overall grade.
Ibirogba finished the 2025 season with 21 total tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and 2.0 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. It was his first full season of action for the Demon Deacons after redshirting his first year on campus in 2024. Ibirogba still managed to play in four games during the 2024 season, making one tackle that season.
Ibirogba signed with Wake Forest from the FCS ranks after starring at Georgetown for two seasons. He combined to make 51 tackles during his two seasons with the Hoyas, recording 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks during that stretch. Georgetown is roughly 30 miles from his hometown of Clarksburg, Maryland, where he was an All-Montgomery Country first team defensive lineman as a senior for Clarksburg High School.
McGuire on Ibirogba: "We believe strongly Mateen will be among the top defensive linemen in the country this season and a future NFL Draft pick. He is a talented addition to our defensive line room who will only continue to improve in the system and the with players around him much like Lee Hunter did this past season. We were fired up when he called to commit to being a Red Raider."
Posted at 7:35 p.m. on Dec. 6.Â
Jojo Johnson
DLÂ |Â 6-2Â |Â 290Â |Â Jr.
Salt Lake City, Utah/Olympus High School  | Previous School: Oregon State
Johnson will be no stranger to Jones AT&T Stadium after traveling to Lubbock this past season with Oregon State. Johnson played two full seasons with the Beavers, giving him two years of eligibility remaining as a Red Raider. He is the third defensive line signee thus far for the Red Raiders, continuing Texas Tech's trend of building its team through the trenches.
Johnson appeared in 19 games as a Beaver, emerging as one of Oregon State's top interior defensive linemen this past season. He totaled 23 tackles over his two seasons, including 7.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks, with the vast majority coming as a sophomore this past fall. Johnson was second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss this past season as he totaled 18 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a team-leading eight quarterback hurries. Pro Football Focus credited him with 14 pressures overall, which was tied for fourth on the team.
Johnson previously redshirted his 2023 true freshman season before seeing action in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2014. He recorded five tackles that season, including one for a loss in a win over Washington State. He signed with the Beavers out of Olympus High School in Salt Lake City where he was a Class 5A first team All-State selection as a senior with 68 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss.
Johnson, one of 13 siblings in his family, was born in the country of Guinea in Africa to parents Davis and Andrea Johnson.
McGuire on Johnson: "We obviously remember JoJo from when Oregon State played here this past season and was impressed with him then and how he continued to develop over the course of the season. He is someone we believe will be a great piece to our interior defensive line. As we all know, you can never have too many talented in that room, so we were thrilled when JoJo let us know he was committing."
Posted at 6:25Â p.m. on Dec. 6.
Brendan Sorsby
QBÂ |Â 6-3Â |Â 235Â |Â Sr.
Denton, Texas/Lake Dallas High School | Previous School: Cincinnati
Sorsby will spend his final collegiate season as a Red Raider after committing to Texas Tech as possibly the top quarterback prospect in the transfer portal. The rising senior will return home to the Lone Star State after spending the last two seasons at Big 12 counterpart Cincinnati and then the 2022-23 campaigns at Indiana. Sorsby, the top player currently in ESPN's transfer portal rankings, has made 31 collegiate starts during his career and will enter the 2026 season among the most-experienced quarterbacks in college football.
Sorsby has easily ranked among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in college football the past three seasons with more than 8,500 yards of total offense and 80 touchdowns between both Indiana and Cincinnati. Sorsby arrives at Texas Tech with 7,208 passing yards and 60 touchdowns to only 18 interceptions over his career to go along with an additional 1,295 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground. He has recorded at least 3,000 yards of total offense in each of the past two seasons while at Cincinnati.
Since 1956, Sorsby is currently one of only 20 quarterbacks in history to throw for 7,000 yards, 60 touchdowns and fewer than 25 interceptions in a career, all while also rushing for at least 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. He joins a prestigious group of former quarterbacks in that category, including several Heisman Trophy winners in Florida's Tim Tebow (2006-09), Baylor's Robert Griffin III (2008-11), Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel (2012-13), Oregon's Marcus Mariota (2012-14), Arizona State and LSU standout Jayden Daniels (2019-23).
Sorby collected All-Big 12 second team honors this past season after completing 207-of-336 passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, while also rushing for 580 yards and nine scores with his legs. Sorsby was one of only five FBS quarterbacks this past season to throw for at least 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 500 or more yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Of that group, Sorsby was the lone quarterback with five or fewer interceptions, earning him a 90.2 overall grade by Pro Football Focus, which was the highest among Big 12 quarterbacks and ranked seventh nationally.
Sorsby accounted for at least two touchdowns in all 12 games for the Bearcats this past season as he was responsible for 216 points, which ranked tied for seventh in the FBS. His successful junior campaign followed a breakout 2024 season where he completed 249-of-389 attempts for 2,813 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 447 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground. He was one of only four FBS quarterbacks with at least 2,800 passing yards that season and 18 touchdowns to go along with nine rushing scores.Â
Sorsby's career high for passing yards ironically came against his new school in Texas Tech as he threw for 425 yards to nearly knock off the Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium midway through the 2024 season. Sorsby threw for four touchdowns in a 44-41 loss to the Red Raiders, including two in the fourth quarter for a Cincinnati team that was a missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired away from forcing overtime. He later rushed for 125 yards later that year at Iowa State, making him the only FBS quarterback during the 2024 season with a 425-yard passing outing and a 125-rushing performance.
Sorsby arrived at Cincinnati following two seasons at Indiana where he made seven starts as a redshirt freshman in 2023. Sorsby, who previously redshirted his 2022 true freshman season, threw for 1,587 yards and 15 touchdowns that season with only five quarterbacks. Sorsby signed with the Hoosiers out of Lake Dallas High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.Â
McGuire on Sorsby: "We couldn't be more excited Brendan has decided to spend his final season as a Red Raider. With the injury to Will (Hammond) late in the season, it was apparent we would need a veteran quarterback under center for next year and Brendan was easily our No. 1 choice. He is proven to be one of the nation's top quarterbacks already during his career and will be an experienced leader for not only our offense but our entire program."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Bryce Butler
DLÂ |Â 6-5Â |Â 320Â |Â Sr.
Toronto, Ont., Canada/St. Thomas More (Ct.) High School  | Previous School: Washington
Butler's signing adds a significant presence in the middle of Texas Tech's defensive line following two seasons at Washington. Butler will have one season of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders after appearing in 15 games the past two seasons with the Huskies, including one start.
Butler played in only three games during his first season in Seattle, allowing him to redshirt following two seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas. Butler still managed to record five tackles during the 2024 season in early non-conference wins over Weber State and Eastern Michigan. He became a regular in Washington's defensive line rotation this past season, appearing in 12 of 13 games overall with one start.
Butler recorded 19 tackles for the Huskies this past season, including 2.5 for a loss and 2.0 sacks. He was considered Washington's top run-stopping option in its front seven, receiving a 79.6 grade from Pro Football Focus that was the highest among all Husky defensive linemen and linebackers. The publication credited Butler with 14 pressures on the season, including three early in the season versus Ohio State and then six in a win over Purdue to close the regular season.
The native Canadian previously played two seasons at Garden City Community College, totaling 28 tackles, including an impressive 12.0 for a loss to earn second team All-KJCCC honors for a second-consecutive season as a sophomore. He recorded 31 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss in his debut season as a true freshman in 2022. He signed with Garden City out of St. Thomas More School in Connecticut where he starred on both the offensive and defensive lines.
McGuire on Butler: "Bryce will be a great addition to our defensive line. With his experience this past season at Washington, he knows the expectations of playing at this level and will bring a veteran presence to our defensive line. It will always start up front for us, and Bryce's signing will help us maintain that mentality."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Julien Laventure
DLÂ |Â 6-1Â |Â 270Â |Â Sr.
Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby High School  | Previous School: Akron
Laventure arrives at Texas Tech after earning second team All-MAC honors this past season while starring on the Akron defensive line. He will have one season of eligibility remaining as a Red Raider, giving Texas Tech another experienced presence in the middle of its front seven.
Laventure totaled 45 tackles this past season for the Zips, including 10.5 for a loss and 4.0 sacks. He was among the most-disruptive players in the country with 37 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked fifth nationally among all interior defensive linemen and led the MAC. Laventure, who also caused a fumble and recovered another on the season, had one more pressure than Texas Tech's interior leader this past season in A.J. Holmes Jr., who was a second team All-America selection by the Associated Press.
The 2025 season was Laventure's lone year at Akron after previously transferring from California (PA). He combined for 72 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks during his two seasons as a Vulcan, earning All-PSAC West first team honors as a sophomore in 2024. Laventure recorded 41 tackles that season, including 8.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks. He began his career with the Vulcans with 31 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks to go along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
Laventure previously redshirted his 2022 true freshman season after signing with California (PA) out of Upper Darby High School in Pennsylvania. Laventure was a three-year starter at the prep level, earning All-DelCo honors as a senior in 2021.
McGuire on Laventure: "Julien is another talented addition to our defensive line. He was one of the nation's most-disruptive defensive lineman in the country this past season, which is exactly what we are looking for in the portal. We're looking forward to getting him on campus this weekend and having him join this defense."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Donte Lee Jr.
WRÂ |Â 6-3Â |Â 185Â |Â Sr.
Baltimore, Md./Dunbar High School | Previous School: Liberty
Lee will utilize his final season of eligibility as a Red Raider, arriving at Texas Tech following a breakout season at Liberty. Lee caught 42 passes for 737 yards and six touchdowns over his two seasons with the Flames, with the vast majority coming as a junior this past season. He played in 23 games during his two seasons at Liberty with 15 starts at wide receiver.
Lee hauled in 32 passes for 589 yards and five touchdowns this past season to lead the Flames in all three categories. He was among the most-explosive receivers in the country, ranking third overall in Conference USA and 13th nationally after averaging 18.4 yards per reception. Lee had 25 of his 32 catches overall go for at least 10 yards with nine for 20-plus yards and five of those resulting in a 30-yard gain. His longest catch of the season came via a 62-yard strike early in the season against Jacksonville State.
Lee began his career at Liberty with 10 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown during the 2024 season, his first at Liberty after transferring from Shaw University, a Division II school in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lee spent two seasons with the Bears, redshirting his 2022 true freshman campaign before becoming a contributor both as a wide receiver and a returner the following year. He caught 26 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2023, while also averaging 25.1 yards per kickoff return to earn first team All-CIAA honors as a returner and a selection to the league's All-Rookie Team.
McGuire on Butler: "Donte is coming off a great season at Liberty and will bring size and speed to our wide receiver room. He really fits the type of receiver we are looking to identify in Coach Leftwich's offense with big-play ability. We're looking forward to getting him to Lubbock beginning this weekend."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Davin Martin
CBÂ |Â 6-2Â |Â 190Â |Â Jr..
Houston, Texas/Klein Cain High School | Previous School: UTSAÂ
Martin adds length and experience to Texas Tech's cornerbacks room following two seasons at UTSA. He will have two years of eligibility remaining as a Red Raider after playing in 29 games with 10 starts as a Roadrunner.
Martin is coming off his best collegiate season thus far as he recorded 26 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception over 11 games. Martin, who made eight starts at corner during the season, intercepted his first career pass early in the season against Incarnate Word to go along with a career-high six tackles. He was targeted 33 times through the air on the season, according to Pro Football Focus, with only 18 of those resulting in completions. None of those receptions, however, resulted in a touchdown as he's only gave up a score play once during his two seasons.
Martin redshirted the 2023 season with the Roadrunners, appearing in only five games with two tackles. He was more predominantly featured in the cornerback rotation the following year, playing in all 13 games while making two starts. He was credited with 12 tackles that season, including a sack to go along with one pass breakup and a fumble recovery late in the year versus Temple.
Martin signed with UTSA out of Klein Cain High School in the Houston area where he was a two-sport standout for the Hurricanes' football and track and field programs. On the gridiron, Martin was a first team All-District 15-6A selection as a senior after helping lead Klein Cain to a 10-2 record and a district title thanks to 44 tackles, eight pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble as a senior.Â
McGuire on Martin: "We're excited to add Davin to our program and our secondary. He is a tall, lengthy corner who will be able to matchup well with the top wide receivers in this conference. He's another state of Texas player who will understand our culture and will bring experience into the cornerback room."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Austin Romaine
LBÂ |Â 6-2Â |Â 245Â |Â Sr.
Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro High School | Previous School: Kansas StateÂ
Romaine arrives at Texas Tech after ranking among the top Big 12 linebackers the past three seasons at Kansas State. A three-time All-Big 12 honoree, Romaine will join a talented Red Raider linebacker room that already features two returning starters in Ben Roberts and John Curry, forming possibly one of the top units in college football. The trio will enter the 2026 season with 79 career starts between them, including 26 from Romaine during his time as a Wildcat.
Romaine totaled 184 tackles during his career with the Wildcats, including 17.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks, en route to earning All-Big 12 second team honors each of the past two seasons. Romaine never redshirted at Kansas State as he immediately joined the linebacker rotation as only a true freshman in 2023, making five starts and 22 tackles as an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Romaine was the Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, an honor he shared with his now teammate in Roberts. He became Kansas State's leading tackler a year later, recording 96 stops overall, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks to go along with three forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
Romaine, a native of Hillsboro, Missouri, was limited to only nine games this past season after leaving the Nov. 1 contest against the Red Raiders with an injury. It was a disappointing end to one of the best outings for Romaine, who finished one stop shy of his career high with 11 tackles to go along with a sack and an interception. He missed the final three games of the regular season due to injury but still managed to garner All-Big 12 second team accolades for a second-consecutive season. Romaine finished second on the team with 66 tackles and 7.0 tackles for loss and added two pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.
Romaine entered the 2025 season on the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Butkus Award, all national honors won by the linebacker he will try to replace in departing Red Raider senior Jacob Rodriguez. Like many other transfer additions under Joey McGuire, Romaine was voted a team captain prior to this past season, an important attribute Texas Tech's pursues in the portal.
Romaine signed with Kansas State out of Hillsboro High School where he was a two-way player over his prep career. Romaine was named a first team All-State honoree as a linebacker following both his junior and senior seasons, combining for more than 200 tackles and 15 sacks during that span. He also rushed for 3,196 yards and 45 yards over his prep career as one of the state's top athletes.
McGuire on Romaine: "Austin helps fill an immediate need in our linebacker room with the graduation of Jacob Rodriguez. We've seen first-hand Austin's impact on the field as one of the top linebackers in the Big 12 the past three seasons. We're really looking forward to pairing him with both Ben (Roberts) and John (Curry) to form what I believe will be one of the nation's top linebacker trios."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
Trey White
OLBÂ |Â 6-2Â |Â 255Â |Â Sr.
San Diego, Calif./Eastlake High School | Previous School: San Diego State
Since their arrival at Texas Tech, head coach Joey McGuire and outside linebacker coach C.J. Ah You have already developed several of the nation's top edge rushers in not only Tyree Wilson, the No. 7 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but also David Bailey and Romello Height this past season. They'll look to do the same with White, who signed with Texas Tech after ranking as one of the top edge rushers in college football the past two seasons at San Diego State.
White, who currently ranks No. 13 overall on ESPN's listing of the top transfer portal entrees, has combined for 29.0 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks the past two seasons for the Aztecs, putting him in a position to rank among the nation's active career leaders entering the 2026 campaign. White has totaled 129 tackles over 40 career games and 26 starts to go along with four pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Pro Football Focus credited White with 91 total pressures the past two seasons alone, earning him All-Mountain West first team honors in each of the last two years. White registered 49 tackles this past season, including a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. White, who was the league's preseason defensive player of the year, ranked tied for fifth in the Mountain West for sacks and was sixth overall for tackles for loss. Hew as previously named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player) prior to his 2024 sophomore season and then the Bronko Nagurski Trophy heading into this past season.
White enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, totaling 60 tackles and a Mountain West-leading 18.5 tackles for loss sand 12.5 sacks. He was among the FBS leaders in the two latter categories, closing the 2024 season in a tie for fifth nationally for sacks and in a tie for seventh in tackles for loss. White closed his tenure among the top sacks leaders in San Diego State history, ranking in a tie for third all-time on the single-season chart with 12.5 sacks in 2024 and then sixth with his 19.5 career sacks.
White began his career as more of an inside linebacker before transitioning to an edge role when San Diego State changed to a 4-2-5 defensive scheme in 2024. He previously recorded 15 tackles, including 2.0 for a loss, and an interception over 12 games and one start as a redshirt freshman in 2023. White saw action in only three games as a true freshman in 2022, preserving his redshirt season. He signed with his hometown Aztecs after previously starring at nearby Eastlake High School where he was a three-time All-League honoree.
White was also known for his leadership in the San Diego State locker room during his three seasons as he was elected as a team captain each of the past two seasons for the Aztecs. He was the first Aztec underclassman to be named a team captain since current Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell from 2004-07.Â
McGuire on White: "Trey is one of the best edge rushers in the country and will be a great addition to Coach Ah You's room and our defense. Our defensive scheme fits Trey's skill set perfectly, so we were excited when he quickly committed to joining our program. He's another great addition to this defense and our program as a whole."
Posted at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6.
