James Blanchard - General Manager - Football Support Staff

James Blanchard

Title:
General Manager

James Blanchard was named the first member of head coach Joey McGuire's charter staff at Texas Tech as he serves as General Manager and oversees the Red Raiders' personnel department.

Blanchard began the rise of the general manager role in college football soon after joining McGuire in Lubbock, immediately reshaping the Red Raiders’ entire recruiting process from scouting to on-campus visits as part of Texas Tech’s unique model that resembles an NFL front office.

Few, if any, general managers across college football have the autonomy Blanchard enjoys under McGuire. Blanchard and his staff are responsible for identifying every prospect Texas Tech ultimately offers a scholarship opportunity, allowing McGuire and his coaching staff to prioritize player development and opponent scouting, especially during the season.

That setup has transformed the Red Raiders’ roster in only four seasons, propelling Texas Tech into a national contender thanks to a mixture of highly-rated transfer signees and consistent top-25 classes of high school prospects. The Red Raiders have signed three top-30 high school classes already under Blanchard, including several five-star prospects in wide receiver Micah Hudson, offensive lineman Felix Ojo and edge rusher LaDamion Guyton with more likely on the way.

Blanchard and his staff identified two five-star signees in Ojo and Guyton as part of a stellar 2026 class that ranked as high as No. 13 nationally by ESPN and No. 15 by 247Sports, which led the Big 12 for the second time already during his tenure. Blanchard previously rebuilt Texas Tech’s recruiting strategy soon after his arrival, signing a 2023 class that was rated as high as No. 28 by Rivals, marking the Red Raiders’ highest recruiting ranking in more than a decade. Texas Tech followed with another banner 2024 class that was considered in the top-25 nationally by both Rivals and 247Sports.

Texas Tech has balanced high-end high school recruiting, especially in the state of Texas, with key additions via the transfer portal. Texas Tech landed On3’s top transfer portal class following the 2024 season as McGuire and his staff signed 20 newcomers to add to an already-talented list of returners that eventually led the Red Raiders to the College Football Playoff for the first time. Texas Tech reloaded again this past offseason, signing a transfer class that ranks as high as No. 2 nationally by On3.

Considered one of the top general managers in college football, Blanchard was named a top rising personnel and recruiting staffers in college football by On3.com in August 2022. He was also named to the 40 Under 40 list compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in its summer 2025 edition of the top coaches and football personnel in the state.

Blanchard was in the midst of his second stint as Baylor’s Assistant Athletics Director for scouting prior to joining McGuire upon his hire in November 2021. Blanchard had previously rejoined the Baylor football staff in January 2021 where he was responsible for identifying and pursuing prospective scholarship student-athletes. He previously served as Director of Recruiting for the Bears from March 2019 to May 2020 before accepting a position with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

While with the Panthers, Blanchard was responsible for breaking down opponent film and evaluating potential free agents for Carolina's front office. He departed Baylor for the NFL alongside former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, who accepted the Panthers head coaching position following the 2019 season.

A native of Orange, Texas, Blanchard was a member of the football program at West Orange-Stark High School before later studying psychology at Lamar University.

He is married to the former Kiara Fowler. The couple has five children – Kenley, Karrington, Karter, Kali and Kason.