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Texas Tech football: 5 newcomers that must pan out for 2021 to be success

By Matthew Conner

Jan 2, 2021; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon's Tyler Shough (12) throws passes before the Fiesta Bowl game against Iowa State at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona RepublicNcaa Football Oregon At Iowa State
Jan 2, 2021; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oregon's Tyler Shough (12) throws passes before the Fiesta Bowl game against Iowa State at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona RepublicNcaa Football Oregon At Iowa State /
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CSU football offensive lineman T.J. Storment, right, blocks during practice outside Canvas Stadium on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019.Storment
CSU football offensive lineman T.J. Storment, right, blocks during practice outside Canvas Stadium on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019.Storment /

T.J. Storment

While Shough is the most important Red Raider in 2021, his new left tackle, T.J. Storment is a close second.  That’s because Shough won’t be able to live up to his full potential if he is constantly under duress.

Storment, a transfer from TCU, was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree last season.  And he comes to Lubbock for his final college season to solidify one of Tech’s biggest weaknesses from a season ago.

Last year, Tech began the season with JUCO signee Ethan Carde and Wofford transfer Josh Burger at the tackle positions.  But it quickly became apparent that Carde lacked the agility to be an elite tackle and Burger was better suited to play guard (where he will play this season replacing Jack Anderson who the Buffalo Bills drafted in the 7th round of this year’s NFL Draft).

In fact, by the time the 2020 season reached November, freshman Caleb Rogers had supplanted Carde as the starter at left tackle.  And though he performed adequately given his youth, Rogers was not a perfect solution to the program’s problems at tackle in his first year as a collegiate.

That’s why Tech went fishing in the transfer portal for help at the position.  And by signing Storment, the coaching staff landed one of the biggest trophies they could have hoped for; both figuratively and literally.

The 6-foot-7, 325-pounder started seven games a season ago helping TCU to a 5-2 record in those seven contests.  The previous season, he started 12 games for the Colorado State Rams making him one of Tech’s most experienced linemen.

This year, he has to be a solution at the left tackle spot for Wells and offensive line coach Steve Farmer.  If he is, Shough will hopefully be the first Tech starting QB to play in every game for an entire season since Nic Shimonek in 2017.  Should that happen, the 2021 Red Raider offense could return to being one of the best in the Big 12.

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