Texas Tech football: Ranking the offensive position groups

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Nov 16, 2019; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back SaRodorick Thompson (28) follows the block of offensive center Dawson Deaton (73) in the first half during the game against the Texas Christian Horned Frogs at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Offensive line

No position group on a football team relies more heavily upon cohesion than the offensive line. Thus, the fact that Tech will return only two players from last year’s line in the same position that they played in 2020 is concerning. But the good news is that there is enough talent for this to be a solid line for the Red Raiders.

Last year, Tech was especially sub-par at the tackle positions. But this year, that shouldn’t be the case with second-team All-Big 12 performer and TCU transfer T.J. Storment now slated to be the Red Raider left tackle.

What’s more, Tech will slide Caleb Rogers over to right tackle. The sophomore appeared in nine games and made three starts to end the season in 2020 and now, he appears poised for a breakout campaign. If he and Storment are able to fortify the edge of the line, Tech will be in much better shape at tackle this year.

The interior of the line returns Dawson Deaton, who may be the Big 12’s best center this year. He enters the season with 22-consecutive starts at the position and he could be an NFL draftee next April.

Next to him will be Weston Wright, who will be in his third season as a starter for Tech. The junior is the fifth-most experienced Red Raider on the roster with 18 career starts.

But at the other guard spot could be one of the keys to this season. After starting all ten games at right tackle last year, former Wofford transfer Josh Burger is now penciled in as the starting left guard where he will have to fill the sizeable shoes of former 5-star recruit and multiple-time All-Big 12 selection Jack Anderson. But most believe that the change to guard will be what Burger needs after he struggled at times playing on the edge of the line last season.

It will be imperative that this position group gels quickly. That’s where it is going to be more than a bit beneficial for the program to have a full set of spring practices as well as what we hope will be a fall camp that is uninterrupted by COVID-19. There’s potential for this group of linemen to be a better than average collection this season but there are still questions to be answered about how this reworked unit will come together. That’s why the o-line checks in just as the No. 3 position group on our countdown.

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