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Texas Tech football: 3 position groups where Tech could turn to transfer portal

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends against offensive lineman Christian Jones #70 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the college football game on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends against offensive lineman Christian Jones #70 of the Texas Longhorns during the second half of the college football game on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 14: Right tackle Josh Burger #50 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the first half of the college football game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 14: Right tackle Josh Burger #50 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders lines up during the first half of the college football game against the Baylor Bears at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Offensive tackle

Perhaps just as important as securing the QB spot is strengthening the group that protects him.  That’s especially true of the offensive tackle position.

Tech was not solid enough there in 2020 and often had to design the offense in a way to protect the tackles.  That included short passes and keeping the tight end in to help block rather than run routes.

2020 JUCO signee Ethan Carde was overmatched by Big 12 pass rushers.  The 6-foot-8, 315-pounder simply doesn’t have the lateral agility to be a top-caliber pass blocker at this level of college football and by the end of the year, he had lost his starting job to true freshman Caleb Rogers.

Slightly better but still not up to par was Wofford transfer Josh Burger.  He came to Tech after playing in a triple-option system for three years and it showed as he was truly a liability in the pass-protection aspect of his job.  He has yet to state whether he will return for another senior year but if he does, don’t be surprised to see him move inside to guard where he seems to be a more natural fit.

Rogers looks to be an answer at one tackle spot but Tech needs to upgrade the other end of the line and that’s where the portal may come into play.  There are already 10 tackles in the portal who were 3-star or higher signees out of high school.

Keep an eye on former 4-star prospects, Ty’kieast Crawford from Charlotte and Marcus Minor from Maryland.  But whomever the Red Raiders land, they have to be an upgrade over Carde and Burger or else the same offensive issues that plagued this program in 2020 will be present in 2021.

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