Texas Tech loses veteran running back to transfer portal
Fans of Texas Tech always had higher expectations for CamRon Valdez than we did, and now he’s in the transfer portal.
Talented athletes don’t always work out. It was the tale of CamRon Valdez’s Texas Tech days. The veteran running back has now reportedly joined the transfer site in search of an opportunity to make his debut, per a RedRaiderSports.com social media report.
In the past, Valdez has entered his name into the gateway. He added his name to the portal after the 2023 season as well before choosing to rejoin the Red Raiders.
Valdez arrived in Lubbock for the recruiting class of 2021. He was rated as a 3-star prospect at the time and ranked as the 32nd best running back in the nation by 247Sports.com.
Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, TCU, Utah, West Virginia, and other schools extended offers to the Rockdale, Texas native. Consequently, a lot of Red Raider supporters were optimistic that he would become well-known in Lubbock.
But it never did. During his tenure on the South Plains, Valdez suffered from injuries that hindered his ability to establish a reliable role for himself.
He played in just eighteen games over his four seasons with Tech. The only season he played in more than four was 2023.
During that season, Valdez rushed for 286 yards and one touchdown on 52 carries while supporting standout running back Tahj Brooks. But in a single game, a 49-28 triumph against Houston in September, 111 of those yards were gained.
Valdez never ran for more than 71 yards in a Red Raiders game, with the exception of that one exceptional performance. In 2025, that was unlikely to alter.
The running back room for the Red Raiders will be packed this season. For playing time in the backfield, Southern California transfer Quinten Joyner will compete with two gifted returning sophomores, Cam Dickey and J’Koby Williams.
Since that three is anticipated to be in charge of nearly every carry for the offence, Valdez was destined to be the odd man out. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is using the portal in an attempt to find a means to resume his profession after a major accident in 2024 put it on hold.
