The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been extremely active in the transfer portal this month, and that’s an understatement. Heading into the portal window, the team anticipated losing some talent but aimed to replace and even upgrade it. Mission accomplished.
As Tech and head coach Joey McGuire gear up to face former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas Razorbacks in the Liberty Bowl on December 27, the roster is undergoing significant improvements. Late Saturday night, the Red Raiders may have added a crucial piece to their special teams unit, according to multiple reports.
Texas Tech secured a commitment from Upton Bellenfant, a kicker transferring from the Buffalo Bulls. Before last season, Bellenfant spent two years with the Alabama Crimson Tide. After Tech experimented with a kicker rotation last year, including Gino Garcia and Reese Burkhardt, Bellenfant is expected to be the team’s primary kicker in the coming season.
The former Buffalo kicker was flawless on shorter field goals this season, hitting all three of his attempts from 20-29 yards, six of six from 30-39 yards, and five of six from 40-49 yards. His only miss came from beyond 50 yards. According to On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos, Bellenfant was an All-MAC selection and perfect on extra points, converting 14 of 16 field goals in 2024. “Texas Tech is on a roll in the portal,” Nakos tweeted.
Texas Tech heads into the offseason with one of the most well-rounded rosters in recent memory, having aggressively pursued the transfer portal like never before. And there’s a chance more players could join the team this spring.
