Texas Tech football: 5 potential game-changing signees in 2024 class

Cheta Ofili could be a dominant Texas Tech edge rusher

Moving to the defensive side of the ball, Tech has landed a potentially dominant edge rusher, Cheta Ofili. Rated as a 4-star prospect, 247Sports has him as the No. 188 overall player in America and the No. 14 edge rusher in his class.

Adding players of this caliber along the defensive line is tough because everyone covets elite pass rushers. However, because the Sachse, Texas native committed to Tech all the way back in April, and because he didn't waver from that pledge, there weren't a lot of high-profile programs to come after the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder.

In ten games this year, Ofili registered six sacks, 53 tackles, and 11 tackles for loss. Can he bring that type of productivity to the next level? Likely not right away.

Because he needs to add 40 pounds of muscle to his frame, Ofili likely won't be an instant-impact player along the defensive line. Tech will enter next year with a bevy of young edge rushers ready to make a mark including Joseph Adedire, Amier Washington, Dylan Spencer, and Isaac Smith (the latter of whom missed all of this season with a knee injury).

That gives Ofili time to grow both physically and as a player, which is what he needs. Still, Tech has to find a way to turn him into a productive player on the edge because he's got the pedigree to suggest that he could make an impact in Lubbock.

Finding elite pass rushers is difficult. Tech hasn't signed a high school player that went on to become a dominant edge rusher since perhaps Pete Robertson in the class of 2011. Maybe the athletic Ofili could become the next but we will likely have to wait a couple of years before he's ready to make that type of impact.