BREAKING: Five-Star Edge Rusher Jaxon Smith Flips Commitment to Texas Tech, Marking Historic Recruiting Coup for Joey McGuire
LUBBOCK, TX — In a seismic shift on the national recruiting landscape, five-star defensive end Jaxon Smith, the nation’s top-ranked edge rusher and a consensus top-10 overall prospect, announced Wednesday that he has decommitted from the reigning national champion Georgia Bulldogs and has flipped his commitment to Coach Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech Red Raiders.
This stunning decision, announced live on the ESPN2 recruiting special, instantly becomes the most significant recruiting victory in Texas Tech football history and signals a potential power shift within the Big 12 Conference. Smith, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound force from Denton, Texas, had been verbally committed to Georgia since the summer, but persistent efforts by the Red Raiders’ staff, coupled with a transformative official visit to Lubbock last weekend, ultimately swayed the elite talent.
“This is home. The connection I have with Coach McGuire, Coach (Zach) Spavital, and the entire staff is different. They have a vision for this program, and they see me as a cornerstone of that,” Smith stated during his announcement. “We’re building something special in West Texas, and I want to be a part of that revolution. The family atmosphere, the passion of the fanbase—it just felt right.”
For Head Coach Joey McGuire, a renowned Texas high school football ambassador and relentless recruiter, this flip is the ultimate validation of his “Built in Texas” recruiting philosophy. Securing a player of Smith’s caliber—a prospect typically destined for Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State—proves McGuire can not only identify talent but can also win the most intense battles against the sport’s true titans.
The implications for Texas Tech are monumental. Smith is the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to the program in the modern recruiting rankings era, shattering the ceiling for what was previously thought possible. His commitment provides immediate credibility on the trail and is expected to have a powerful ripple effect, helping the Red Raiders attract other high-level prospects who now see Lubbock as a viable destination for NFL development.
On the field, Smith projects as an instant-impact player. His combination of size, explosive first step, and advanced hand technique addresses a critical need for a Texas Tech defense looking to apply more consistent pressure in the pass-heavy Big 12. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will now have a centerpiece around which to build his unit for the next three to four years.
The flip also delivers a psychological blow to the SEC and a massive jolt of energy to the Big 12, demonstrating that its programs can compete for the very best talent in the country. For Georgia, it is a rare high-profile loss on the recruiting trail, underscoring the unpredictable and fiercely competitive nature of modern college football.
In Lubbock, the news has ignited a frenzy. Social media erupted, and the “Guns Up” hashtag trended nationally as the Red Raider faithful celebrated a landmark moment. This isn’t just about adding a great player; it’s a statement. Joey McGuire and Texas Tech have loudly declared they are no longer just participants in the recruiting game—they are now formidable players capable of landing the sport’s biggest prizes. The future in Lubbock just got significantly brighter, and the college football world is now on notice.
