Texas Tech football hosts potential 2020 starter for official visit

This weekend, the Texas Tech football program hosted JUCO offensive tackle Ethan Carde, who might be a possible answer at a position of need next fall.

It’s no secret that the Texas Tech football program has a need at offensive tackle now that both 2019 starters, Travis Bruffy and Terence Steele, have exhausted their eligibility.  We’ve also discussed in the past week how the answers for 2020 might come in the JUCO ranks.

A new name to monitor is Etha Carde, who took an official visit to Lubbock this past weekend.  The Coffeyville C.C. product checks in at a massive 6-foot-8, 325 pounds.

Rated by 247Sports as a 3-star prospect and the No. 18 JUCO tackle in the nation, he would likely compete for a starting job next year for a Red Raider program that does not have any definitive answers on either end of the line.  Currently, 247Sports lists his only offer as being the one from Matt Wells and the Red Raiders.

Making it seem like the Red Raiders might be the frontrunner in this race would be the fact that he was in Lubbock this weekend for an official visit.

A native of Valrico, Florida, he made national news when playing for Bloomingdale High School in 2018 because he tossed a nice 27-yard touchdown pass.  On the play, the then 335-pound left tackle releases into the backfield at the snap to take a lateral and then hit an open receiver in the end zone.

However, his arm isn’t why Texas Tech is interested.  Rather, it is the fact that he would be an answer for the Red Raiders at a spot where there is expected to be a wide-open competition this offseason.

Tech has made the top 3 for another JUCO tackle who could be a walk-in starter, Jeremy Flax.  The highly-coveted bookend is set to decide between Tech, Kentucky, and Auburn Tuesday evening at 5 pm.

Thus, the Red Raiders could potentially land both of next year’s starting tackles from the JUCO ranks in the upcoming days and weeks.  That would help to solidify a position that is rather thin as it currently stands.

The only seemingly viable options on the roster right now are Weston Wright, who played well this year in place of Jack Anderson at right guard and who might make most sense at left guard next year, Casey Verhulst, who started twice at right tackle this fall, and Will Farrar, who was a backup that played primarily in the interior of the line this season.

But we can be assured that Wells and his coaches will add to the roster some other options because there has to be more competition and more depth should a starter be lost for a significant period of time next season.  With the early signing window set to arrive this week, keep an eye on announcements from the JUCO ranks because that’s where the Red Raiders might find their next pair of starting offensive tackles.