Reports: Texas Tech lands Mansfield Lake Ridge star with $5.1 million contract
On his 17th birthday, Mansfield Lake Ridge five-star Felix Ojo, the No. 1 recruit in Texas and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, announced his commitment to Texas Tech on Instagram live.
According to ESPN’s Eli Lederman, Ojo’s agent Derrick Shelby stated that he signed a fully guaranteed, three-year, $5.1 million revenue-sharing contract. Texas Tech, which wasn’t among Ojo’s final four announced Thursday, made a late push for Ojo’s talents, according to Rivals.
With recent changes to the NIL and revenue sharing landscape under House Bill 126, players who are 17 years old can now sign NIL deals. Student-athletes may not receive compensation until they are enrolled in a program.
Ojo turned 17 on the Fourth of July; even with Texas Tech not being among his final four, the new era of college football allowed the Red Raiders to make a late and persuasive move.
Before Ojo’s commitment, he had four hats in front of him on a table — a Texas Tech hat was not among them. Ojo grabbed the Texas hat and said he would be committing to Texas as spectators erupted in cheers.
Soon after, he made it clear that it was all a joke; Ojo grabbed a Texas Tech hat from under the table and took off his sweater, revealing a Texas Tech shirt as he officially committed to the Red Raiders.
Ojo, the highest-rated recruit in Texas Tech’s history, has a 6-foot-6, 275-pound frame. In 2024, he was named to the Star-Telegram All-Area First Team with Lake Ridge, a team that finished 0-6 in district and 1-9 on the season. The Lake Ridge phenom also considered Florida, Michigan and Ohio State.
Ojo’s deal is one of the largest fully guaranteed revenue-sharing deals in college football. According to ESPN’s Max Olson, Texas Tech spent $10 million during the winter transfer portal window. The Matador Club, Tech’s NIL collective, has helped facilitate several deals, including a seven-figure one for softball phenom NiJaree Canady.
“Let’s change cfb …” Ojo wrote in a post on X.
This story was originally published July 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM.
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