Nation’s No. 1 Recruit Names Unexpected Big 12 Program That is ‘High’ on his List originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With the influence of NIL on college football, many around the sport assumed that the rich programs would only get richer.
However, and this is easier said than done, all it takes is for one wealthy booster to be enamored with a program, and all of a sudden, there is a new NIL powerhouse. Yes, there will always be top recruits who reach the perennial powers of college football, but we have started to see some mid-tier programs rise to the top in recruiting.
A prime example of this would be the recruitment of the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 class, EDGE LaDamion Guyton. The Georgia product has offers from just about every major program you could think of, with schools such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, USC and Tennessee after him.
However, as he revealed to Rivals’ Chad Simmons, while he still has visits to set up with other programs, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are making a strong push.
“I still have not been able to get everywhere yet and give different schools a chance,” Guyton said. “I like Texas Tech, and they are high on my list, but Georgia is always going to be up there. Schools like Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, USC, LSU and others reach out, and I want to get a lot of games this season. Texas Tech really did a great job, though, and I want to get back out there.”
Although Texas Tech has never played for a Big 12 title and has just one 10-win season since 2000, it has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the NIL space. This is thanks to oil tycoonand billionaire Cody Campbell.
The former Texas Tech offensive lineman has decided to use his fortune to help uplift the program’s athletic department, and now coaches around the sport are calling them one of the biggest spenders in college football.
Whether or not it will pay off down the road is unknown, but in the meantime, they find themselves squarely in the mix for elite recruits.
Related: Nation’s No. 1 Recruit Announces Plans to Play Two Positions in College
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.