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Texas Tech football: Players that must step up in 2021

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Defensive lineman Tyree Wilson #19 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gestures before the college football game against the Texas Longhorns 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 gestures before the college football game against the Texas Longhorns 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) /

OL Josh Burger

There isn’t a player on this year’s Texas Tech football team with bigger shoes to fill than right guard Josh Burger.  After all, he’s stepping into the spot that had been manned for four seasons by Jack Anderson, one of the best linemen to come through the program in the last decade.

This year, Burger simply must be more steady and reliable than he was a season ago.  But the good news is that he’s now playing at his natural position.

Burger started all 10 games last year at right tackle out of necessity.  But that’s not where he’s built to play.

Lacking elite athleticism and quickness and without an elite wingspan, Burger isn’t an ideal tackle.  Rather, he’s more of a mauler who needs to play on the interior of the line and that’s what he will do in 2021 as he’s penciled in as Tech’s starting right guard.

Remember that Burger came to Lubbock from tiny Wofford college.  And though he played tackle there, he was groomed to be a guard because Wofford played a triple-option offensive scheme which asked all five linemen to be far more skilled at run blocking than at pass protection.

Granted, Burger will have to be a reliable pass blocker this year on the interior of Tech’s line as well as clearing out space for the running backs.  But playing in traffic and not having to operate in space should suit him well as will playing next to preseason All-Big 12 center Dawson Deaton.

Tech must have better play along the offensive front this year.  That would go a long way in helping new QB Tyler Shough reached his full potential.  And Burger has a huge role to play in that endeavor.  Hopefully, the move to his natural position will be what helps him take the next step forward.

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