They say money talks, but in Lubbock? It screams. And when it yells loud enough, even the top dawgs in the ACC come running. Something just went down in West Texas that’s got the rest of the Big 12 sweating, and it ain’t just the weather. Joey McGuire might’ve just pulled off the heist of the spring portal—and he didn’t even have to leave the house. All thanks to their $4.8 million NIL muscle.

Texas Tech Red Raiders just snatched former Stanford EDGE monster David Bailey straight out of the portal. The 6’3, 240-pound quarterback’s worst nightmare with one year left to wreak havoc. This isn’t any random pickup either. This man is literally the crown jewel of the spring transfer window, and now he’s got a locker in Lubbock. Once a Freshman All-American, Bailey picked Texas Tech over Texas and UCLA. He hit the portal right after Stanford GM and NFL legend Andrew Luck gave Coach Troy Taylor the boot, instantly becoming the hottest name up for grabs before the spring transfer window opened. His decision? All gas, no brakes.

Let’s be real—Tech’s defense last season was Swiss cheese. Dead last in pass defense, giving up 308.1 yards through the air per game? That isn’t it. And only 25 sacks? But Bailey’s arrival might just flip the whole script. He’s fresh off a season with 7 sacks, 39 QB pressures, and five—count ‘em—FIVE forced fumbles. That man’s hands are basically weapons. Over his time at Stanford, Bailey stacked 22.5 TFLs and 14.5 sacks. Joey McGuire saw those stats and said, ‘Bet.’

And yeah, the money mattered. The Red Raiders dropped a casual $10 million+ on the portal, building one of the nastiest classes in the country. Texas low-key flexed its $4.8m NIL dough on locking in on David Bailey. But when you’re hungry for your first Big 12 chip, you have to spend like it. Texas Tech now owns the No. 1 portal class according to both 247Sports and On3. It’s giving SEC energy in the Big 12.

Bailey joins fellow linebacker Romello Height from Georgia Tech, another portal baller, plus four other top-75 ESPN-ranked transfers. McGuire’s building like he’s playing Dynasty Mode on NCAA 14—except this is real life, and the stakes are championship-high. Red Raider fans can feel it: This isn’t the same old Tech. They’re coming for blood this season. Defense isn’t the only side making noise.

Joey McGuire names the offensive baller who lit up spring scrimmage

While David Bailey was busy making headlines, a familiar face turned heads at Tech’s spring scrimmage—and Joey McGuire isn’t holding back the hype. Wideout Caleb Douglas? Man went off. “So on the good side,” McGuire said on his podcast What’s Next!, “Caleb Douglas had two big touchdowns. That was great to see. Both, you know, Will Hammond hit him on a screen for a touchdown and then hit him on a deep ball.” Word on the street is both those TDs were 50+ yard bombs. That’s vintage Douglas. Last year, he posted 60 catches for 877 yards and six tuddies—averaging 14.6 a pop. Now with Josh Kelly gone, Caleb’s got WR1 written all over him.

Here’s the thing—Douglas had some crazy flashbacks in 2024, but he was also MIA in some games. Six of them with four or fewer catches. That can’t fly if you’re trying to be the guy. But if he locks in? He’s got the juice to lead the Big 12 in receiving. Unfortunately, the scrimmage didn’t end all sunshine. Douglas hyperextended his knee and picked up a bone bruise. No surgery is needed, but it’ll shut him down for the rest of spring ball. It’s a bummer, no doubt, but McGuire isn’t worried. They’ve seen enough to know: Caleb Douglas is HIM.

The Red Raiders are in reload mode, not rebuild. With David Bailey ready to unleash chaos on D, and Douglas leveling up on offense, this Texas Tech squad is starting to look scary. Joey McGuire said he wanted dogs—looks like he found them. Now it’s time to let them eat.