Texas Tech football: Best JUCO tranfers in program history

No. 9: OL Paul Stawarz 2015-18

One of the biggest tasks facing the 2019 Texas Tech offense is finding a suitable replacement for center Paul Stawarz.  The former JUCO transfer from the College of DuPage in 2015 was one of the more underrated players for the Red Raiders over the last three years as the anchor of the offensive line.

After redshirting in 2015, he made eight starts along the o-line playing both guard positions.  He helped protect quarterback Pat Mahomes who led the NCAA in passing with 412 yards per game.

In 2017, he started all 13 games at center helping the Red Raiders reach the Birmingham Bowl.  The honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection was a key in helping Tech improve its rushing output by almost 40 yards per game that season.

Last year, Stawarz started ten games at center missing the TCU and Kansas State games due to injury.  The preseason Remington Award watchlist member finished his career with 31 starts including 26-straight from 2016-18.

An unranked high school prospect in 2014, Stawarz only had offers from Tech and Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, and Northern Illinois coming out of the JUCO ranks in 2015.

One of the more under the radar players to ever sign with the Red Raiders, the Illinois native went from being a surprise starter as a redshirt sophomore to become the veteran leader of the offensive line over his final two years.   We often overlooked Stawarz while at Tech because centers rarely get the headlines.  But this fall, we may find out just how much this former JUCO player meant to the Red Raiders if his replacement does not live up to the standard he set over the past two years.