Texas Tech football: Three position groups in flux as spring football nears

The offensive line is undergoing a rebuild

It looks like the Texas Tech football team will put together an offensive line in 2021 that features only two starters from 2020 playing the same spot they did this past fall.  But such a major reshuffling of the deck was necessary after the way the Red Raiders’ line disappointed last season.

Of course, Tech is going to have Dawson Deaton at center and Weston Wright at left guard.  They are both multi-year starters who should provide experience and leadership in the trenches this year.

But with Jack Anderson now headed to the NFL, a new right guard has to be found.  Many believe that opportunity is going to go to Josh Burger, who played right tackle in 2020.

The transfer from Wofford was far from spectacular on the edge of the line but he did play well enough to hold down the starting job all season.  However, he is likely better suited to play inside where his liabilities as a pass blocker won’t be as easily exposed.  Thus, look for him to get the first crack at filling Anderson’s massive shoes next to Deaton.

The key spots to watch though will be the tackle positions.  Tech simply has to figure out how to better fortify both the right and left tackle spots this offseason after each was a troubling spot in 2020.

The hope is that second-year player Caleb Rogers will mature into a viable starter on the left side.  As a true freshman last season, he took over the starting job from JUCO transfer Ethan Carde late last season and he enters the spring the likely candidate to hold down that job.  But can he become a Big 12-caliber starter for the upcoming season?  Tech had better hope so.

Meanwhile, at right tackle, TCU transfer and second-team All-Big 12 selection T.J. Storment could be a godsend.  The massive 6-foot-7, 325-pounder will slot in at right tackle (presumably) and will be expected to lock down a starting position while massively upgrading the play at that spot.

Over the course of this spring, this position group has to be figured out.  Hopefully, all five of the expected starters will be able to participate in the full 15 practices because offensive line play is all about cohesion making the spring reps invaluable for a group that must be markedly improved this fall.