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Texas Tech Football: 5 “Air Raid” Era Greats That Would Help This Year

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 14: DeAndre Washington
LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 14: DeAndre Washington /
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STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders celebrate after a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders celebrate after a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

The “Air Raid” offense is built around the quarterback so it stands to reason that protecting the passer is a high priority.  No Red Raider in the “Air Raid” era was a better pass protector than Le’Raven Clark.

The four-year starter transitioned from right guard to left tackle after his redshirt freshman season.  In doing so, he stabilized the left side of the offensive line allowing the rest of the linemen to apply double-teams when needed.

Clark ended his career as one of the most decorated offensive linemen in Texas Tech football history.  He was named a CBS Sports second-team all-American in 2015 as a senior.

Plus, he was three times named to the all-Big 12 first-team (2013, 2014, 2015) and the second-team in 2012.  Clark turned his fantastic Red Raider career into an NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts.

He was selected with the 82nd pick of the 2016 draft making him one of the highest draft picks of the “Air Raid” era.  Clark started three games as a rookie for the Colts allowing just one sack and one quarterback hit in 201 snaps.

In 2017, the Texas Tech offensive line would be drastically improved by the addition of the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Clark.  Kingsbury and his offensive coaching staff are having to build an offensive line that is likely to rely on numerous underclassmen.

Four of the five offensive line starters on the Texas Tech post-spring depth chart are underclassmen.  That group includes sophomores Terence Steele, Madison Akamnonu and Travis Bruffey along with true freshman Jack Anderson.

Furthermore, the backup offensive line consists of three more underclassmen.  There is no senior leader on this unit and no player that has proven capable of handling an opponent’s top pass rusher without help as Clark did virtually every Saturday.

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