### **OPTION 1: Dramatic & Breaking-News Style**
**UT News: 5-Star QB Stuns College Football World by Rejecting $10.22M NIL Offer, Decommits from Texas, Flips to Texas Tech Over Bama, Georgia**
In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the college football landscape, 5-star quarterback phenom Jalen Ricks has officially decommitted from the University of Texas and flipped his commitment to Texas Tech — turning down a reported $10.22 million NIL offer from another Power 5 program in the process.
Ricks, widely regarded as one of the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 class, made the announcement via social media Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the SEC and Big 12. The Duncanville (TX) product had long been considered the face of Texas’ future under head coach Steve Sarkisian, but after weeks of speculation and quiet visits, the decision became official.
“I’ve prayed on this, thought it through, and talked with my family,” Ricks wrote. “This is about fit, culture, and legacy. I’m 100% committed to Texas Tech and ready to build something special in Lubbock.”
Sources close to the recruitment confirm that Alabama and Georgia made aggressive late pushes, both with competitive NIL offers and promises of early playing time. One SEC insider revealed that a $10.22 million NIL package was on the table from a southern powerhouse believed to be Alabama. Ricks declined it, choosing instead to stay in-state and commit to Joey McGuire’s rising Red Raiders program.
“This isn’t just about money,” Ricks told *UT News* in an exclusive interview. “Texas Tech believed in me from the start. They didn’t try to buy me — they recruited me the right way. That means something.”
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### **OPTION 2: Legacy & Loyalty Angle**
**UT News Exclusive: 5-Star QB Rejects $10.22M, Decommits from Longhorns, Picks Texas Tech Over Bama, Georgia**
In a move that rewrites the recruiting narrative of 2025, five-star quarterback Jalen Ricks has decommitted from the Texas Longhorns and announced a surprise flip to Texas Tech, bypassing powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia — and walking away from a rumored $10.22 million NIL offer in the process.
Ricks, the top dual-threat QB in the country and a generational Texas talent, had verbally committed to UT last fall and was being groomed as the heir apparent to Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. His departure marks one of the most high-profile flips in recent Texas recruiting history.
Texas Tech, under head coach Joey McGuire, has steadily built one of the most exciting cultures in the Big 12. Now, with Ricks on board, the Red Raiders’ 2025 class skyrockets into national prominence.
“Legacy isn’t just about where you go, it’s what you build,” Ricks said. “Texas Tech gave me a vision I couldn’t ignore. I want to bring a national title to Lubbock.”
His decision also highlights a growing trend: elite players choosing relationships and program vision over just NIL money. While the $10.22 million figure turned heads, Ricks says the choice was never just about dollars.
“I know who I am. I know what I want. And I know who’s been real with me from day one.”
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