Texas Tech isn't shopping in the transfer portal this offseason ... they’re hunting.
And if the latest chatter holds, the Red Raiders could be lining up a full-on rebuild of the passing game for 2026 with a new quarterback, a new WR1 candidate, and the kind of name that makes defensive coordinators start circling Saturdays in Sharpie.
Multiple reports indicate Florida wide receiver Eugene "Tre" Wilson III is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2, and Texas Tech is being labeled an early program to watch in the race, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
If that sounds familiar in Lubbock, it's because the last time Tech dipped into Florida's receiver pool, it worked out beautifully.
Caleb Douglas arrived from Gainesville and quickly turned into a difference-maker. First as a complementary weapon in 2024, then as the guy who led Tech in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2025. The message that is sent to portal receivers is loud. If you were underused in the SEC, Lubbock can be a glow-up factory.
Wilson's body of work is a mix of real talent and frustrating interruptions.
He popped as a freshman with 61 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns, showing the quickness and versatility of a player built for space. Injuries derailed his sophomore season to just four games (19 catches, 266 yards, one touchdown), and even when he was available in 2025, the production never fully spiked (27 catches, 239 yards, three scores across eight games).
Still, his usage tells you what Tech would be buying. Wilson played both outside and in the slot in 2025, splitting his snaps across alignments and offering the kind of chess-piece flexibility that modern Big 12 offenses drool over.
And Texas Tech's offense is not shy about feeding receivers.
With offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich extended and the Red Raiders coming off a top-five scoring finish, the pitch sells itself ... tempo, points, and a system that puts skill players on billboards.
The timing also screams urgency. Quarterback Behren Morton and wideouts Douglas and Reggie Virgil are expected to graduate and set their sights on the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning Tech is headed for a new-look aerial attack whether it likes it or not.
That’s why the Red Raiders have also been linked to former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby and Colorado wide receiver Omarion Miller. Add Wilson to that wish list and you can see the blueprint. Replace the trigger-man, reload the perimeter, and keep the offense vicious.
There's also a roster-fit angle. Coy Eakin is expected back and has worked heavily from the slot, but he’s shown outside ability, too. Wilson’s versatility would give Tech more options, not fewer—move pieces around, force mismatches, and make defenses pick their poison.
Texas Tech has already proven it can win the portal game, and general manager James Blanchard's extension reflects that confidence.
Now the question is simple. Does Tech land another Florida receiver and turn potential into production again? If Wilson hits the market, expect Lubbock to be loud early.