Ohio State’s top remaining offensive line target in the 2026 class spurned the Buckeyes for a surprise destination.
Felix Ojo planned to commit to either Ohio State, Texas, Michigan or Florida when he announced Monday that he would make his college choice on July 4. When he made his actual announcement on Friday, however, Ojo committed to Texas Tech.
It was initially reported that Ojo would receive a fully guaranteed three-year revenue-sharing deal worth $5.1 million from the Red Raiders, helping explain why he chose Texas Tech despite omitting them from his initial final four. However, later reports indicated that the deal only guarantees Ojo $775,000 per year, with the potential for Ojo to earn more through incentives and renegotiation.
NEWS: Five-star OT Felix Ojo, No. 20 in the ESPN 300, has committed to Texas Tech.
— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) July 4, 2025
His agent Derrick Shelby tells @ESPN that Ojo will join TTU on a fully guaranteed, 3-year, $5.1 million revenue share contract, believed to be one of the largest guaranteed deals in CFB history. pic.twitter.com/qpEeRnINNv
The guaranteed rev share amount is roughly half the $5.1m. Have also been told that the contract actually pays Ojo $775k per year over 3 years.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) July 4, 2025
The numbers below include incentives and if the deal is renegotiated.
Was also told Texas Tech softball helped pull off the deal https://t.co/5o0mUjiiIS
Ojo’s surprising decision comes after Texas Tech signed the No. 2 class out of the transfer portal this offseason. With Ojo’s commitment, Texas Tech made a big move up 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings for the 2026 class from 36th to 23rd.
As for Ohio State, Ojo’s decision comes as another disappointing shortfall in a race for a five-star offensive tackle after the Buckeyes missed out on Jackson Cantwell in the 2026 class and Tennessee signee David Sanders Jr. in the 2025 class, among other marquee out-of-state offensive line targets in recent recruiting cycles.
Ojo, who is ranked as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 7 overall prospect in the 2026 class, had been seen as the Buckeyes’ best shot at landing a five-star offensive lineman in the current cycle. While Tyler Bowen has built a quality class in his first recruiting cycle as Ohio State’s offensive line coach, pairing in-state four-stars Sam Greer and Maxwell Riley with Arizona three-stars Aaron Thomas and Tucker Smith, his class still lacks a top-rated out-of-state prospect, which has been an all-too-common refrain for Ohio State’s offensive line recruiting in recent years.
That said, Ohio State still has several chances to add to its 2026 offensive line class. Four offensive linemen who made official visits to Ohio State this summer remain uncommitted: Five-star Virginia prospect Darius Gray, four-star IMG Academy lineman Breck Kolojay, four-star Florida lineman Da’Ron Parks and four-star North Carolina tackle J.B. Shabazz.
Parks announced Wednesday that he will announce his commitment on July 26, choosing from a final four of Auburn, Florida State, Kentucky and Ohio State. Gray, Kolojay and Shabazz have not yet announced commitment dates.
I will be committing july 26th at 4:30
— Da'Ron Parks (@DaRon__Parks) July 2, 2025
DM me if you want to stream it
