Red Raiders pursue explosive athletes like Daniel Yebit, prioritizing size and speed to build a dominant future after a historic season.
Momentum on the field has a way of carrying over to the recruiting trail, and right now Texas Tech Red Raiders are clearly benefiting from it.
Fresh off a historic run that included a Big 12 title, a College Football Playoff appearance, and a school-record win total, head coach Joey McGuire and his staff have hit the ground running in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
Early returns already have Tech sitting among the nation’s top classes, and the profile of their targets makes one thing clear: the Red Raiders are swinging big.
One of the latest names to emerge is Daniel Yebit, a long, explosive two-way athlete from Yukon High School in Oklahoma.
While recruiting services haven’t assigned him a star rating yet, Texas Tech’s interest tells its own story. Programs don’t hand out early offers lightly, especially to prospects who can impact the game in multiple phases.
Yebit’s versatility is what jumps off the page. At 6-3 with verified track-style explosiveness, he profiles as the type of athlete modern defenses crave.
His junior film shows a player who can flip the field - high-pointing passes on offense, breaking on the ball in coverage, and creating turnovers with instincts rather than guesswork.
Add in sub-4.5 speed and elite jumping metrics, and it’s easy to see why Power Five staffs are lining up early.
This fits a clear pattern in McGuire’s recruiting philosophy. Texas Tech isn’t just chasing stars for the sake of rankings; it’s prioritizing traits - length, speed, positional flexibility - that translate when competition levels rise. That approach helped fuel the Red Raiders’ recent breakthrough and is now shaping the next wave.
Zooming out, Tech’s recruiting strategy is layered.
While the 2027 class is off to a fast start with blue-chip commitments at quarterback and skill positions, the staff has also been aggressive in the transfer portal.
That balance matters. Elite freshmen build the foundation, while portal additions accelerate contention. The result? A roster that looks built to sustain success rather than spike briefly.
Another factor working in Tech’s favor is brand perception. Winning changes conversations. Recruits notice playoff logos, championship banners, and player development pipelines.
When a program shows it can win big and send players forward, evaluations become easier, and early offers carry more weight.
For fans tracking recruiting beyond just star counts, the takeaway is simple ... Texas Tech is recruiting like a program that expects to stay relevant nationally.
If prospects like Yebit continue to emerge and develop into ranked recruits, this 2027 class could end up even stronger than it already looks on paper.
In Lubbock, the message is clear ... the Red Raiders aren’t done building. They’re just getting started.