Felix Ojo lands $5 million NIL deal after Texas Tech commitment
The deal, which is one of the largest of its kind since direct athlete compensation became legal, sets a new benchmark in college football.
Ojo, ranked No. 20 in the ESPN 300 and No. 4 among offensive tackles, attended Lake Ridge High School in Texas and measures in at 6‑foot‑7 and 285 pounds during the spring.
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Felix Ojo during OT7 Week 2 Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Dallas.
AP
A standout pass blocker and run-stuffer, Ojo attracted offers from major programs, most notably fellow power five schools in Texas, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State and Ole Miss.
'Football is a brutal sport, and athletes are not able to play professionally until their graduating class has been in college three years,' Shelby said to ESPN. 'It was important to be able to secure Felix Ojo's future and give him and his family some security as he continues to develop into a first-round NFL draft pick.'
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The deal is similar to the $5 million-plus NIL deal received by top tackle Jackson Cantwell, who joined Miami earlier this year.
Ojo committed to the Red Raiders on July 4, positioning the offensive tackle as Texas Tech's highest-rated recruit since ESPN began tracking in 2006.
Mascot Raider Red gestures as Texas Tech fans throw tortillas on the field during the opening kickoff on August 31, 2024.
Getty Images
The Red Raiders invested heavily in talent this year, spending over $10 million across 17 portal transfers.
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Texas Tech is coming off an 8-5 season where it went 6-3 in Big 12 play and lost to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.
Texas Tech hasn't won double-digit games in any season since 2008, when it went 11-2 and lost to Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.
In more recent history, Texas Tech just produced a third-round pick from its offensive line this past season, Caleb Rogers, who was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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