Texas Tech’s 2027 recruiting class already has plenty of star power, but SaRod Baker just gave Red Raiders fans a highlight they won’t forget anytime soon.
The Texas Tech commit ripped off a 99-yard touchdown run for DeSoto during a scrimmage against North Forney High School, turning a play pinned deep in his own territory into a full-field explosion. With DeSoto backed up to its own 1-yard line, the 5-foot-9, 196-pound back took the handoff and went the distance.
The run had just about everything. At the 3-yard line, Baker powered through two defenders who tried to bring him down at once.
Then, near the 10, he got caught in a pile with at least four North Forney defenders. He still managed to spin free, stay on the sideline, and keep his feet.
From there, Baker found open grass, slipped out of a few shoestring tackle attempts, cut back toward the sideline and finished the job in the end zone.
It was the kind of carry that explains why he’s so highly regarded. Baker showed power, balance, speed and vision all on one snap, and that combination has made him one of the nation’s top running back recruits.
DeSoto’s SaRod Baker showing us what it was like trying to tackle Earl Campbell. @JoeyMcGuireTTU pic.twitter.com/DjMWqVbEoh
- Bill Jones (@CBS11BillJones) August 22, 2026
According to 247Sports.com, Baker is the No. 71 overall player and the No. 4 running back in his class. He’s also the fourth-highest-ranked high school player committed to Texas Tech in the current cycle.
That class is loaded. Tech’s 2027 group includes ten players ranked as five-star or four-star prospects, the most in the Big12 by a wide margin. Among the headliners are two five-star defensive linemen, including Jalen Brewster, the nation’s top overall player.
Baker may not get the same buzz as those names, but he’s still one of the best backs in America.
And he’ll be joining a Texas Tech running back room that already looks crowded for the future. Cam Dickey, Ja’Koby Williams and Quentin Joyner are the team’s top three backs this season, and all three have multiple years of eligibility left.
Texas Tech also added former 4-star recruit Ashton Rowden to the rotation this fall. The Texarkana product arrived with plenty of expectations after being ranked as a top-20 national running back in the class of 2026.
For Texas Tech, the long-term outlook at running back is in great shape. For fans, Baker’s latest run was a reminder of why this commitment has so much appeal.
In Other News...
Texas Tech's Top Commit Just Created A New Recruiting Tension
Five-star defensive lineman Jalen Brewster, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2027 Rivals300, is changing high schools, moving from Cedar Hill in Texas to Buford in Georgia as his senior-year path takes him farther from home. Even with the transfer, Brewster remains committed to Texas Tech, where he has been pledged since October 2025, and the Red Raiders have plenty of reason to keep treating him like the centerpiece of their class.
The move adds a fresh layer of intrigue because Brewster has still made the rounds with other programs, even as he works toward graduating early in December and enrolling at Texas Tech ahead of schedule. The expectation is that his recruitment will wrap up soon, which leaves the Red Raiders watching a high-profile national prospect navigate one last stretch before his college decision becomes official in practice, not just on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Former FSU Quarterback Buzz Could Reignite An Uncomfortable Debate
Thomas Castellanos sudden availability has put Texas Tech back in the kind of quarterback conversation it would rather avoid revisiting too soon. The former FSU signal-caller was recently granted a fifth year of college eligibility through a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, and reports say he is now in contact with the Red Raiders about a possible transfer. With the position still carrying the baggage of recent turbulence, Texas Tech is said to be weighing the situation carefully rather than rushing into another move.
The interest is not isolated to Lubbock, either, with Duke among the other programs mentioned as possible landing spots. For Texas Tech, the appeal is obvious enough: a talented quarterback with an unusual path back onto the market. But until there is an official decision, the discussion remains part opportunity, part warning, especially for a team still trying to steady itself after the Brendan Sorsby situation and avoid another uneasy reset. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Offensive Line Is Building Serious Momentum In Camp
Texas Techs offensive line has started to draw some real attention in preseason camp, and that matters for a team trying to set a tone before the schedule gets rolling. After a closed scrimmage, Joey McGuire said it was the groups best practice of the offseason, a notable compliment for a unit that brings back three starters and is working in two new guards. Even in a part of camp that stays mostly behind the curtain, the early signs have been encouraging enough to suggest the Red Raiders may be settling in up front.
A.J. Holmes also had positive things to say about the new additions, another useful marker for a position group that often reveals itself first in the trenches. For Texas Tech, the next test comes quickly with the season opener against Abilene Christian on September 5, and the lines progress between now and then will go a long way toward shaping how comfortable the offense looks from the start. [Read more 🡒]