Heading into the Fourth of July, the Ohio State football team was seen as one of the top two schools for Felix Ojo. The five-star tackle had mentioned those were his top two schools as recently as a week ago. Things changed on July 3rd, when something big happened.

That’s when Ojo received a crystal ball prediction to end up at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were not even in his final four schools, which is what made things so shocking. Fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes held out hope that they could still land him, though.

It was not to be. Texas Tech came off the top rope to steal Ojo from both the Buckeyes and the Longhorns. Ojo made that decision on Instagram Live just after 2 pm ET on Friday. It’s clear that Tech came in with a massive NIL bag, and that’s all Ojo is concerned with.

Ohio State football team loses Felix Ojo to Texas Tech at the 11th hour

While Ojo has an impressive set of physical skills, he has been trending in the wrong direction for a while. He got absolutely cooked at the Rivals camp last week, including by an Ohio State recruit. It was so bad that he had to issue a statement about his bad play.

Jumping ship on two teams that have been recruiting him for a while to collect a large bag is a bad look for him. Ohio State has steadily maintained that it will not go crazy for any single recruit when it comes to NIL funds, and they stuck to their principles.

If Ojo really is as good as he thinks he is, a massive NIL bag shouldn’t be what he is chasing. These five-star recruits should be going to programs that can develop them for the next level so that they can excel in the NFL. That’s where the real money is.

Tyler Bowen has been gobbling up offensive linemen, so this isn’t a massive hit. While Ojo was the highest-rated recruit he had on his board, he’s got others who can take his place in the class.

Texas Tech secured a monumental commitment from five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo, marking the program’s highest-rated commitment ever. Ojo, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound prospect from Lake Ridge, Texas, chose Texas Tech over Texas and other contenders, ranking as the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect for the class of 2026. In a groundbreaking move, he signed a full-guaranteed three-year, $5.1 million NIL deal—among the largest in college football history. Ojo’s signing is seen as a transformative moment for both the player and the college football landscape.

By the Numbers

• Ojo is ranked No. 5 overall and No. 1 in offensive tackles for the class of 2026.
• His NIL deal totals $5.1 million, representing one of the largest guarantees in college football history.

State of Play

• Ojo’s commitment sets a new standard for Texas Tech’s recruiting efforts.
• The move could influence other high-profile recruits considering the program.

What’s Next

As Ojo transitions to Texas Tech, expectations will grow for his on-field performance. His immediate impact could lead to a recruiting boost for the program, potentially attracting more top talent. The success of his NIL deal may shape future negotiations for other college athletes.

Bottom Line

Felix Ojo’s commitment and NIL deal signify a potential shift in college football dynamics, highlighting the escalating influence of financial incentives in recruiting. His future performance on the field will be closely watched, as it could redefine expectations for both players and programs in the NIL landscape.

The fireworks began early for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football program on the Fourth of July.

On Friday morning, Lake Ridge (Texas) five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo chose Texas Tech over fellow finalist Texas and others.

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The 6-foot-6, 275-pound lineman is the highest-rated commitment in program history – by a wide margin.

He is the school’s first-ever top-20 pledge, currently listed as the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle in the class of 2026.

And no one is being shy about the details of how that stunning development happened.

According to ESPN, his agent, Derrick Shelby, has reported Ojo signed a full-guaranteed three-star, $5.1-million deal – one of the largest guaranteed deals in the history of college football.

For his part, Ojo expressed excitement about his new situation.

“Let’s change (college football),” he posted to social media.

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Whether Ojo dominates on the field or not in Lubbock, his NIL deal may mean he’s already accomplished that feat before arriving on campus.

Here’s what 247Sports had to say about Ojo as a prospect:

“Tall offensive tackle prospect who’s very young for his recruiting class with a July DOB. Verified at 6-foot-6, 272 pounds post-junior season with adequate length numbers in arm (33 5/8) and wingspan (81 1/2). Owns a lean, athletic look and plays with impressive functional athleticism and movement ability.”

“Live evaluation during 2025 Navy Army All-American Bowl revealed a consistent mean streak in pads. Stood out physically, athletically, and in field demeanor despite being among the youngest competitors in the event. Hand placement/technique have improved from sophomore to junior year, along with ability to stand up to POA strength. Gets good extension and uses length to his advantage. Still developing consistent pop; can be grabby, but looks to finish with authority. Plays upright at times and can show more frequent bend ability. Will continue to bulk given immense frame potential.”

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“Bolsters athletic profile with discus reps. Capacities for strength and power are high given excellent physical tools and relative youth. Looks like one of the top OT prospects in the 2026 class with potential to become a multi-year high-major tackle with ample pro potential.”

Texas Tech have beaten out the likes of Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and in-state rivals Texas to the blockbuster signing of five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo to add to their 2026 class

Five-star offensive tackle prospect Felix Ojo committed to Texas Tech on a fully guaranteed deal worth $5.1 million.

With the 2025 college football season fast approaching, recruiting for the 2026 class is heating up. On Friday, Ojo inked a historic seven-figure revenue deal with Texas Tech in a huge statement signing for the ambitious Red Raiders.

Ojo is a highly rated prospect having dominated in high school. Standing an imperious 6-7, the starlet tackle chose Texas Tech — who also had success in the transfer portal — over Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and even Steve Sarkisian’s Texas following several official visits this spring.

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Ojo is the program’s highest-ranked addition since ESPN began ranking high school prospects in the 2006 recruiting cycle. The money seemed too good to turn down; Ojo’s deal is believed to be one of the largest fully guaranteed revenue-share agreements in college football history.

Ojo’s agent, Derrick Shelby, of Prestige Management, confirmed the contract. He said: “Football is a brutal sport, and athletes are not able to play professionally until their graduating class has been in college three years.

“It was important to be able to secure Felix Ojo’s future and give him and his family some security as he continues to develop into a first-round NFL draft pick.”

Ojo is the latest big name to sign with Texas Tech, which has been splashing the cash to recruit recently.

The Red Raiders reportedly spent more than $10 million on 17 new players in the winter transfer portal. Texas Tech has made 21 portal additions to assemble the nation’s second-ranked transfer class this offseason, per ESPN.

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Ojo is a big get for Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders. He was a multi-year starter at Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas, and represents one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation.

He will join Texas Tech in 2026 as the program’s first five-star signee since wide receiver Micah Hudson in 2024. Ojo is also the headline commit in Texas Tech’s offensive line class, which also features a pair of spring pledges in three-star offensive guard Jerald Mays and offensive tackle Jacob Crow

NIL deals and revenue sharing have forever changed the face of college sports. Football undoubtedly commands the most significant outlay, but other sports are feeling the impact, too; Jack Nicklaus recently criticized the NCAA’s inability to “control” NIL.

Last month, a judge ruled that college athletes will receive money directly from schools in a momentous change to the collegiate revenue model. Starting on July 1, schools will be able to pay athletes up to $20.5 million a year starting in 2025-26, and this figure is expected to increase by a certain percentage each year.

Effectively, this means college sports will no longer be treated as amateur. Athletes will be compensated more than through the previous NIL program started in 2021; they will be paid directly by universities — and Ojo will be one of many looking to cash in.