Texas Tech Suffers Big Setback on Recruiting Trail

Texas Tech just lost a major piece of its 2027 recruiting class, as five-star offensive tackle Cooper Hackett flipped his commitment to Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-7 lineman from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, had been committed to the Red Raiders since late August but reopened his recruitment this week and chose to commit to the Sooners instead. The decision is a clear setback for Joey McGuire and his staff, especially given how much ground they had gained in the trenches over the past two cycles.

Hackett’s flip stings not just because of his five-star status, but because of what it represented. Texas Tech had gone into Oklahoma and pulled an elite prospect with national offers. That kind of win signals traction and builds trust across state lines. Losing him to a regional rival resets that momentum and opens the door for other programs to question how firm Tech’s top commitments really are. While early recruiting flips are part of the game, this one cuts a little deeper, given Hackett’s potential and the need for high-end offensive line play in Lubbock.

According to reports, Hackett turned down a more lucrative NIL offer from Texas Tech in favor of what he viewed as a better long-term fit in Norman. He told On3 that the money was not the deciding factor and that his commitment was about development and opportunity. Whether or not that is the full story, the result is the same: Tech loses its top-ranked pledge in the 2027 cycle and must now regroup quickly to stabilize the rest of the class.

Still, there is no panic in Lubbock. McGuire’s staff has consistently recruited well at the high school level, and one flip does not define a class. Texas Tech remains in a strong position with several four-star prospects and has built legitimate momentum in both Texas and neighboring states. The key now is to close on targets already in the pipeline and reassert the message that the program is building something sustainable, not reactionary.

Hackett’s decision hurts, but the larger story for Texas Tech is still trending in the right direction. The Red Raiders need to reinforce that message on the field and in the living room if they want to stay in the conversation for elite linemen moving forward.