Historic Haul: 8 Red Raiders Invited to NFL Combine

LUBBOCK, Texas — The momentum from Texas Tech's historic 2025 campaign continues to build, as the NFL officially announced its invite list for the 2026 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

In a testament to the talent development under Joey McGuire, a program-record eight Red Raiders have received invitations to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts and decision-makers from February 24 to March 2.

Defense Leads the Way

Reflecting the identity of the 2025 Big 12 Champions, the defensive unit accounts for five of the eight invites. This group, which led the FBS in rushing defense, will be well-represented at Lucas Oil Stadium.

• DL David Bailey: The relentless pass rusher whose pressure rate topped the conference.
• DL Romello Height: A transfer success story who became a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
• DL Lee Hunter: The anchor of the defensive interior.
• DL Skyler Gill-Howard: A versatile lineman who saw his stock rise significantly in November.
• LB Jacob Rodriguez: The heart of the defense and a top-5 Heisman finisher, Rodriguez's invite was a foregone conclusion, but his testing numbers will be highly anticipated.

Offense Power Players

On the offensive side, three key contributors to the Red Raiders' explosive attack earned their spots:

• QB Behren Morton: The West Texas native who piloted Tech to its first conference title since 1994. Scouts are eager to see his arm strength in person.
• WR Caleb Douglas: Morton's favorite target, known for his contested catch ability and vertical speed.
• WR Reggie Virgil: A dynamic playmaker who provided the lightning to Douglas's thunder.

What This Means for 2026

While sending eight players to the Combine is a massive recruiting tool for Joey McGuire ("The Joey McGuire standard," as accolades are often called in Lubbock), it also underscores the production that must be replaced.

The Red Raiders have already begun aggressive work in the transfer portal to reload, landing Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby and Auburn WR Malcolm Simmons to plug the gaps left by Morton and Douglas. But for this week in February, the focus remains on celebrating one of the most talented classes to ever wear the Double T.

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine begins February 24 on NFL Network.