Home / Sports / Texas Tech Lands $3.5M NIL Deal with Top 2027 Recruit
Texas Tech Lands $3.5M NIL Deal with Top 2027 Recruit
8 Aug
Summary
- Texas Tech signs 5-star recruit LaDamion Guyton to $3.5M NIL deal
- Guyton is the No. 2 recruit in the 2027 class and top prospect in Georgia
- Georgia Bulldogs miss out on elite in-state recruit amid NIL shift
On August 8th, 2025, the Georgia Bulldogs suffered a major recruiting setback as they missed out on landing 5-star pass rusher LaDamion Guyton, who instead committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Guyton's decision to join Texas Tech does not come as a complete shock, as the Red Raiders had been building momentum to land the coveted 2027 recruit. However, Texas Tech is not typically known for securing top prospects from Georgia. This shift may be indicative of the growing influence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in the current recruiting landscape.
According to reports, Texas Tech reached a staggering $3.5 million NIL agreement to secure Guyton's commitment. The rising junior is expected to earn $1.4 million as part of this deal, which includes annual escalations and potential for further renegotiation.
Guyton, ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the 2027 class, is a highly sought-after edge rusher from Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect is the top-ranked recruit in the state and the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
This loss for the Georgia Bulldogs is part of a troubling trend, as the program has struggled to retain elite in-state talent in recent years. In the class of 2026, Georgia has just two commitments from the top-10 recruits in the Peach State, a significant drop-off from the six top-10 in-state signees in the 2025 cycle.
Coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs will undoubtedly continue to prioritize Guyton and other top Georgia prospects, but the growing influence of NIL deals may make it increasingly challenging to keep the state's elite talent at home.
