Texas Tech football: 5 unknowns that remain ahead of 2019 season

Who will replace Paul Stawarz at center?

Every Red Raider fan knows that replacing players like safety Jah’Shawn Johnson and linebacker Dakota Allen will be essential this fall.  But on the other side of the ball, one of the biggest unknowns about this season is the question of who will replace Paul Stawarz at center.

Over his three years at Tech, Stawarz developed into one of the most underrated players on the team starting 31 games in the middle of the line.  Named a Big 12 honorable mention honoree in 2017 and Remington Award watchlist member last year, the former JUCO transfer will not be easy to replace.

And unfortunately, this spring we did not get to see the full battle for the starting center spot play out.  Senior Bailey Smith, who made two starts at center last year when Stawarz was injured, ended the spring atop the depth chart at the position but that’s because his primary competition, Dawson Deaton was injured for most of the spring.

Smith was somewhat uninspiring in his play last year when Stawarz missed the TCU and Kansas State games.  And in those games, the offense had two of its worst showings of the year (though certainly not all of that falls at Smith’s feet).

Many expect Deaton to be the man who eventually wins this job but it is yet to be seen if the redshirt sophomore can seize the position from Smith.  If neither is able to reassure the coaches that he is the man to lead the line, junior Jack Anderson could be an option to slide over from his right guard spot but it would not seem to be ideal to take an all-conference caliber player and move him to a new position if it can be avoided.

Do not underestimate the importance of the center position.  Making all of the calls along the offensive line and having to be the quarterback of the big boys up front is a crucial job.  Figuring out who will assume that role this fall is going to be one of the most important tasks facing Wells and Yost when August camp begins.