The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been incredibly active in the transfer portal this month. Heading into the portal window, they knew they would lose some key talent, but the goal was to replace that talent and then some—and they’ve succeeded. As Texas Tech and coach Joey McGuire prepare to face their former Southwest Conference rival, the Arkansas Razorbacks, in the Liberty Bowl on December 27, the roster is undergoing significant improvements. Late Saturday night, they may have added a crucial piece to their special teams, according to multiple sources. The Red Raiders secured a commitment from Upton Bellenfant, a transfer kicker from the Buffalo Bulls.
Bellenfant previously spent two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide before last year. After experimenting with a kicker rotation that included Gino Garcia and Reese Burkhardt, Bellenfant is expected to be the team’s primary kicker next season. This past season, Bellenfant was perfect on 3-of-3 kicks from 20-29 yards, 6-of-6 from 30-39 yards, and 5-of-6 from 40-49 yards, missing only one attempt from beyond 50 yards. “Buffalo kicker Upton Bellenfant has committed to Texas Tech, a source tells @On3sports,” reported Pete Nakos of On3. “The Alabama transfer was an All-MAC selection and was perfect on extra points, hitting 14 of 16 field goals in 2024. Texas Tech is on a portal roll.”
Tech heads into the offseason with one of the most well-rounded rosters in recent years, having aggressively utilized the transfer portal like never before. Additional players may also join the team this spring.
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