LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) – One of the most highly-anticipated recruiting classes in Texas Tech history arrived on campus Saturday as head coach Joey McGuire and his staff welcomed 26 mid-year additions for the start of the spring semester.
Texas Tech has been the talk of college football since the transfer portal opened in December with the Red Raiders signing what is considered the nation’s top class according to On3.com. The transfer class is also ranked second nationally currently by both 247Sports and ESPN, raising expectations for a Texas Tech program that is coming off its fourth-consecutive bowl appearance and an 8-5 record in McGuire’s third season.
“We’re excited to get this entire group to campus,” McGuire said. “Now, the work begins. I know throughout the recruitment process that this group believes it has much to prove. The same could be said for the returners we have coming back. I’m looking forward to gelling this group together in the coming weeks to form the 2025 version of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.”
All 17 transfers arrived on campus Saturday along with eight high school signees who inked with the Red Raiders in early December. The list of high school mid-year arrivals includes offensive lineman Connor Canty, wide receiver Michael Dever, linebacker Brock Golwas, tight end Preztynn Harrison, quarterback Lloyd Jones III, defensive back Deante Lindsay, offensive lineman Patrick McMath, wide receiver Leyton Stone and quarterback Holden Phillips.
Dever and Stone – both Lubbock natives – joined the Red Raiders late in their preparations for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, taking part in Texas Tech’s game-week practices on campus as well as in Memphis. Texas Tech’s other 10 high school signees from the 2025 class are expected to arrive in June.
Texas Tech will host its first team meeting for the 2025 season Tuesday evening in the Womble Football Center prior to the start of offseason workouts the following morning.
Below is a brief synopsis of each member of Texas Tech’s top transfer class.
Dontae Balfour (DB, 6-2, 180, Sr., Starke, Fla., Previous School: Charlotte): Balfour will play his final college season as a Red Raider after previously recording 49 tackles, two interceptions and a school-record 11 pass breakups this past fall at Charlotte. Balfour, who began his career at North Carolina, combined for 103 tackles (70 solo) and 3.5 tackles for loss over 23 games with the 49ers, while adding three interceptions, 24 passes defenses, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He signed with North Carolina as a four-star prospect out of high school, ranking as high as No. 17 among cornerbacks by 247Sports.
Upton Bellenfant (K, 6-2, 180, Jr., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Previous School: Buffalo): Bellenfant will have the opportunity to replace departing place kicker Gino Garcia, who set the Texas Tech single-season record for field goal percentage after connecting on 19-of-20 attempts this past season. Bellenfant was right with Garcia last season among the FBS leaders for field goal percentage as he found the uprights on 18-of-his 21 attempts with his longest coming from 52 yards for Buffalo. Bellenfant, who began his career at Alabama, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders.
Amier Boyd-Matthews (DB, 6-1, 180, Jr., Tempe, Ariz., Previous School: UTEP): Boyd-Matthews is another lengthy cornerback who will immediately add depth in the Red Raiders’ secondary after arriving at Texas Tech following three seasons at UTEP. Boyd-Matthews played in 24 games with eight starts as a Miner, finishing with 16 tackles this past season to go along with a pair of interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Boyd-Matthews, who will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders, was particularly effective in pass coverage for the Miners as he was targeted 26 times this past season with only nine of those resulting in a completion. Opposing receivers only gained 163 yards on those targets.
Terrance Carter Jr. (TE, 6-2, 235, Jr.., Killeen, Texas, Previous School: Louisiana): Carter immediately bolsters Texas Tech’s tight ends room as he ranked among the top pass-catching tight ends in the country this past season at Louisiana. Carter caught 48 passes for 689 yards and four touchdowns for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2024, earning first team All-Sun Belt honors. Carter, who caught 76 passes for 944 yards and seven touchdowns over his two seasons, graded out at 83.8 this past season by Pro Football Focus, which ranked sixth nationally among tight ends. He had a 90.0 grade as a receiver, which was fifth overall among tight ends nationally.
Tarrion Grant (DB, 6-2, 195, So. Sumter, S.C., Previous School: Purdue): Grant adds another young defensive back to Texas Tech’s secondary as he arrives after playing in 11 games and three starts as a true freshman this past season at Purdue. Grant, a former five-star signee for the Boilermakers, totaled 13 tackles on the season, while breaking up two passes and forcing one fumble despite being one of the youngest players in college football. Grant turned 17 just before the 2023 season after re-classifying to the 2024 class out of high school.
Mitch Griffis (QB, 5-11, 195, Jr., Ashburn, Va., Previous School: Wake Forest): Griffis bolsters Texas Tech’s quarterback room with another experienced signal caller as he joined the Red Raiders after appearing in 23 games with 10 starts at Wake Forest. Griffis combined for 1,957 passing yards and 15 touchdowns over his three seasons to only eight interceptions, finishing with a 60.0 completion percentage (157-of-263) while also rushing for 141 yards and two scores on 123 carries. He threw for the bulk of those yards as a sophomore in 2023 when he completed 124-of-207 passes for 1,553 yards and nine touchdowns over his nine starts.
Romello Height (DL, 6-3, 240, Sr., Dublin, Ga., Previous School: Georgia Tech): Height was among the most-productive edge type players to enter the portal this offseason as he’s totaled 73 tackles, including 15.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks, over 36 career games. Height spent the 2024 season at Georgia Tech where he recorded 34 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a pass breakup. He previously notched 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks as a sophomore at USC in 2023. Height was credited with 31 pressures this past season by Pro Football Focus, giving him 68 for his career.
Skyler Gill-Howard (DL, 6-1, 285, Sr., Milwaukee, Wis., Previous School: Northern Illinois): Gill-Howard was among the most-productive interior defensive linemen in the country this past season with 52 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks for Northern Illinois. He played two seasons at Northern Illinois, totaling 76 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as well as a fumble recovery. Gill-Howard received an 84.0 overall grade by Pro Football Focus this past season, which ranked 10th in the FBS among interior defensive linemen. He was particularly effective in the run game, grading out at 88.7 overall which was sixth among interior defensive linemen. The publication credited Gill-Howard with 26 total pressures en route to earning second team All-MAC honors.
Anthony Holmes Jr. (DL, 6-2, 295, Jr., Houston, Texas, Previous School: Houston): Holmes will be more than familiar with new defensive coordinator Shiel Wood’s scheme after spending the previous three seasons at Houston. Holmes recorded 40 tackles this past season, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, as one of the Big 12’s top underclassmen one the interior defensive line. He was credited with 27 total pressures by Pro Football Focus, which was tied for the most among Big 12 interior defensive linemen. Holmes will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders.
Lee Hunter (DL, 6-4, 320, Sr., Mobile, Ala., Previous School: UCF): A two-time All-Big 12 honoree, Hunter arrives after dominating opposing offenses the past three seasons while at UCF. Hunter combined for 131 tackles with the Knights, including an impressive 21.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks over 38 games and 23 starts. He was named an All-Big 12 second team selection this past season after totaling 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and a sack for the Knights. Hunter, who began his career at Auburn, previously notched 69 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 2023, which marked the most tackles in the country by a defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus.
Will Jados (OL, 6-8, 305, Sr., Westerville, Ohio, Previous School: Miami (Ohio)): Jados adds significant size and experience to a new-look Texas Tech offensive line, standing 6-8 in height after arriving as a three-year starter for Miami (Ohio). Jados appeared in 40 games the past three years with 38 starts, including in his last 27 games as a RedHawk. Jados, a second team All-MAC selection as a sophomore in 2023, will be among the most-experienced offensive linemen in college football in 2025 as Pro Football Focus credits him with 2,222 career offensive snaps, mainly at left tackle.
Quinten Joyner (RB, 5-11, 215, So., Austin, Texas, Previous School: USC): The Red Raiders have been led in rushing each of the past four seasons by a Manor High School graduate in Tahj Brooks. There’s an opportunity for that streak to continue with Joyner, who rushed for 478 yards and three touchdowns on only 63 carries this past season at USC. Joyner previously redshirted his 2023 true freshman season but still managed to enter five games, totaling 18 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown in that span. He signed with USC as a four-star prospect in the 2023 class, ranking as high as No. 4 among running backs nationally by 247Sports and among the top-20 prospects in the state of Texas.
Brice Pollock (DB, 6-1, 190, Jr., Snellville, Ga., Previous School: Mississippi State): Pollock will reunite with new Texas Tech cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath, who was previously his position coach while at Mississippi State in 2023. Pollock spent two seasons with the Bulldogs, totaling 72 tackles, an interception and 11 pass breakups over his 23 games and 15 starts. He started in all 12 games for the Bulldogs this past season as only a true sophomore, giving him two seasons of eligibility remaining as a Red Raider.
Howard Sampson (OL, 6-8, 325, Jr., Houston, Texas, Previous School: North Carolina): Sampson returns to his home state of Texas after starting in all 12 games this past season at left tackle for North Carolina. Sampson, who began his career at North Texas, fits the description of what Texas Tech looks for in recruits with a 6-8, 325-pound frame. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Red Raiders, giving new offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich and offensive line coach Clay McGuire another reliable option up front as he gave up only five sacks this past season over 423 pass blocking opportunities.
Reggie Virgil (WR, 6-4, 190, Sr., Apopka, Fla., Previous School: Miami (Ohio)): Virgil was among the most-productive wide receivers in college football this past season, catching 41 passes for 816 yards and nine touchdowns with Miami (Ohio). Virgil caught at least one touchdown passes in seven of his final eight games of the season, recording three 100-yard outings during that span. Virgil earned All-MAC second team honors after leading the conference with an average of 19.9 yards per catch. He also ranked tied for third in the conference for touchdown receptions and ninth in receiving yards.
Cole Wisniewski (DB, 6-4, 215, Sr., Sparta, Wis., Previous School: North Dakota State): Wisniewski arrives after a stellar career at North Dakota State where he was a consensus first team FCS All-American in 2023. Wisniewski moved from linebacker to safety prior to that season, which paid off as he tied the Missouri Valley Conference and North Dakota State single-season records with eight interceptions. It marked the most interceptions at either the FCS or FBS level that season. Wisniewski, who added 92 tackles that same season, missed the 2024 campaign after suffering a preseason ankle injury.
Hunter Zambrano (OL, 6-5, 300, Sr., Weston Fla., Previous School: Illinois State): Zambrano caps a strong transfer class on the offensive line after starting the previous four season at Illinois State. Zambrano was credited with 1,637 offensive snaps over his Illinois State tenure by Pro Football Focus, giving up only seven sacks over 874 pass-blocking opportunities during that span. Zambrano was tabbed a preseason FCS All-American this past season before playing only two games due to injury. He was previously a second team All-MVFC selection in 2023 after starting in all 11 games for an offensive line that surrendered only seven sacks that season. He arrives at Texas Tech with 25 starts for his career, all at left tackle.
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