Texas Tech football: Former 4-star TE Baylor Cupp commits to Red Raiders

Though we are almost finished with spring football, the 2022 Red Raiders continue to evolve from a personnel standpoint.  That’s because Joey McGuire’s overhaul of the Texas Tech football roster continued on Tuesday when he added yet another potentially impactful transfer to his team in the form of tight end Baylor Cupp.

A 6-foot-7, 245-pound  transfer from Texas A&M visited Lubbock last weekend and made his decision public via social media just two days later.  And make no mistake, Cupp could be a huge addition to the Red Raider attack.

Coming out of high school, the Brock, Texas native was rated a four-star prospect and the No. 1 tight end in the nation.  He held offers from the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas, and Southern California among others.

But as a freshman in 2019, Cupp broke his ankle in a Texas A&M scrimmage requiring surgery and causing him to miss the entire season.  What’s more, a shoulder injury cut short Cupp’s 2020 season.  Thus, being that he took a redshirt for his freshman season and that the 2020 season did not count against a player’s eligibility, Cupp still has three years of eligibility remaining.

Now it’s time for him to start fresh and to begin to put up the type of numbers that many believe he’s capable of following a 2021 season in which he did not register a catch despite appearing in ten games for A&M.

There was quite a bit of hype surrounding Cupp when he was a high school prospect.  In fact, Charles Power of 247Sports was effusive in his praise of Cupp.

"Power wrote of Cupp in 2018: “Tall, athletic build. Has little bad weight and a frame that could carry 260 pounds. One of the most explosive overall athletes in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Tests exceptionally well athletically and is a standout in track & field running the 200 meter and throwing the shot put. Advanced enough as a jumbo athlete that he could succeed as a defensive end in addition to tight end. Plays in a run-heavy offense and excels as a run blocker. Uses his natural strength to drive defenders off the ball, often spiking them into the turf.“One of the best combinations of blocking and athleticism at the position in several cycles. Most of his production as a receiver comes off of play action, with him often blowing past opposing defensive backs resulting in wide open plays. Has the skill set to become a versatile and complete in-line tight end at the next level. Doesn’t have many opportunities to make contested catches. Tends to body-catch at times and can be hesitant in attacking the ball as a pass-catcher. Raw as a route-runner and will need to continue developing on that front. Projects as an early contributor at the Power 5 level with the upside to develop into one of the top tight ends in college football.”"

Thus, if Cupp can come anywhere near matching that type of projection, he will be a huge weapon for the Red Raiders.  But his addition had some fallout.

Over the weekend, redshirt freshman tight end Jed Castles from Wichita Falls, Texas reportedly entered the transfer portal.  Though we can’t be certain, it would seem to be logical to conclude that Castles’ decision was influenced in part by Cupp’s presence.

Castles appeared in only three games last year and caught just one pass for 17 yards.  But back in the class of 2021, he was rated a 3-star prospect and the No. 35 tight end in the nation.  However, when he arrived he was overshadowed by fellow 2021 signee, Mason Tharpe, himself a 6-foot-7, 225-pound tight end who saw significantly more playing time last fall catching 14 passes for 198 yards and a TD.

Now, Tharpe will pair with Cupp to form a potentially dangerous TE duo in Lubbock.  And it will be fascinating to see how these two monster targets operate in McGuire’s new offense come September.