Texas Tech Football: Position Groups That Will Be Better In 2018

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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 4: Nic Shimonek #16 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders scrambles with the ball during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 4, 2017 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

The Offense Line

There is a strong case to be made that the Texas Tech offensive line is the second-best unit on the team (after the linebackers). The O-line should be the backbone of the offense this fall as it returns every starter from the bowl game.

But while every starter returns, there will be new blood in the starting unit as at least one redshirt freshman, Dawson Deaton, is expected to start at guard this year. That such a young player is pushing the veterans is only a positive at a position group that is virtually guaranteed to be impacted by injuries throughout the season.

While Deaton is going to be seeing his first collegiate action this fall, his former high school teammate from Frisco, Texas, Jack Anderson is already a star in the Big 12 and the best player on the Texas Tech offense.

Anderson started every game last year and was fantastic. Earning first-team freshman All-American honors, Anderson lived up to his billing as a four-star recruit.

Next to Anderson is one of the top centers in the nation, Paul Stawarz. The senior from Illinois is one of 57 players named to the pre-season Rimington Award watch list and he will anchor a line that is looking to improve upon the 27 sacks it surrendered in 2017.

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The tackles are solid with junior Travis Bruffy entering his second season as starting left tackle and junior right tackle Terence Steele already having started all 25 games of his college career. Additionally, backups Jacob Hines and Madison Akamnonu have both started games in their careers and could easily step in should they be called upon.

The 2018 offense looks like it will set up to maximize this big offensive line’s potential. As we discussed earlier, a higher priority will be placed on running the ball this year, which should fit this group well. In 2017, Tech increased its rushing output by over 40 yards per game despite losing the mobile Pat Mahomes at QB.

And speaking mobile quarterbacks, whichever passer earns the nod to start this year will be far more mobile than 2017 QB Nic Shimonek which will help the offensive line keep the QB clean. Shimonek was known for holding on to the ball and staying in the pocket to a fault resulting in sacks that were not necessarily the o-line’s fault.

But Jett Duffey and McLane Carter are dual-threat QBs that will not be statues in the pocket. Meanwhile, true freshman Alan Bowman would likely be asked to get rid of the ball quickly and make the easy throw while he adjusts to the college game should he earn the job. Regardless of which player is running the offense, the offensive line’s sack numbers should decrease this fall.

There are questions at receiver as well as QB this year so the performance of the offensive line will be critical this fall, especially early as the skill position players may take a bit longer to come around. Look for Kingsbury and his staff to put a huge load on the shoulders of this physical and talented offensive line.

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