Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land three potential impact transfers

Wednesday was a busy day for the Texas Tech football program. Not only did the Red Raiders travel to Shreveport, Louisiana for the Independence Bowl but, more importantly, they picked up three players from the transfer portal who could make an immediate impact in 2024.

After seeing numerous players depart since the end of the regular season, there remain plenty of spots for Joey McGuire and Co. to fill, even after the most recent additions. That's one reason why fans have kept paying close attention to who the program has been targeting in the portal. Fortunately, it appears that Wednesday's newcomers are going to be capable of making their presence known right away.

Texas Tech could use Caleb Douglas' playmaking ability

Because he plays wide receiver, Florida transfer Caleb Douglas elicited perhaps the greatest interest from the fan base. With 21 career receptions in his two years as a collegiate, the 6-foot-3 target could bring some much-needed depth to the Texas Tech offense.

This year, Douglas was limited to five games because of a lower-leg injury with his last game coming on September 30. That makes some believe that he could potentially apply for a medical redshirt, which would give him three years of eligibility for the Red Raiders.

In the class of 2021, the Missouri City, Texas native was a three-star recruit with offers from the likes of Baylor, LSU, Southern California, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Texas, Utah, and Texas Tech among others.

With receivers such as Myles Price, Jerand Bradley, Loic Fouonji, J.J. Sparkman, and Tyler King all entering the portal this year, the Red Raiders will likely take several pass catchers from the portal this recruiting cycle and a player with Douglas' potential is a great place to start. He projects as an outside receiver and he could help the Red Raiders not only in 2024 but beyond making him a valuable addition.

Though he has only 308 yards and 3 TDs in his career, he is a player to be excited about. Douglas is not only an immediate candidate for playing time but he is also a player who the program could build around.

Texas Tech lands coveted offensive lineman Vinny Sciury

Savvy fans know that Texas Tech must rebuild its offensive line this offseason if the 2024 team is going to be more potent when it has the ball. Fortunately, Wednesday saw that process take a step in the right direction with the commitment of guard Vinny Sciury.

A transfer from Toldeo, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound native of Ohio was one of the most coveted players in the portal and had been courted by Auburn among other programs. He has 33 starts over the past three years and he will almost certainly slot in as a starter for the Red Raiders.

All three of Tech's starting interior offensive linemen from 2023 are set to exhaust their eligibility after Saturday's Independence Bowl. However, Tech is already starting to restock that position group by adding Sciury and announcing that three-year starting tackle, Caleb Rogers, will be moving to either guard or center next fall.

Still, much more help is needed along the line of scrimmage so expect Tech to bring in multiple other transfers via the portal. Adding Sciury is a great way to begin the replenishment of the line as he will bring some physicality and size to the Red Raiders for his final year of college football.

Texas Tech lands defensive back Devynn Cromwell

No program can have too many big and fast defensive backs so it makes sense that Texas Tech targeted Devynn Cromwell who also announced on Wednesday that he had committed to the program. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, the native of Canada who has been playing college football north of the border, is listed as a safety and he could see some early playing time at Tech given all that the Red Raiders are losing in the secondary this offseason.

This was a nice win for the Red Raiders given that Cromwell was also considering Big 12 rival West Virginia. This year, in nine games, he amassed 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass defenses, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the University of Guelph.

Set to leave the Red Raider secondary this offseason are safeties Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Tyler Owens as well as corners Rayshad Williams and Malik Dunlap. That means that much of the secondary in 2024 will be revamped making a player of Cromwell's potential an important addition.

The Red Raiders will remain active in the portal in the upcoming days, weeks, and potentially even months (given that there is another portal window in the late spring/early summer.) Keep an eye on Washington State wide receiver Josh Kelly. Wednesday, as he canceled a scheduled visit to Utah, two experts from 247Sports put crystal ball predictions in for the Red Raiders in Kelly's recruitment.

Landing Kelly, who had nearly 1,000 yards receiving last year for the Cougars would instantly upgrade Tech's passing attack over any player the Red Raiders had on the roster last year. McGuire is hard at work trying to restock and upgrade the talent he has to work with after a disappointing 6-6 regular season in 2023. Wednesday, he made major strides in that pursuit, and it is guaranteed that he is far from finished.