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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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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 28: Defensive end Trace Ford #94 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys makes his way around offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders to pressure the quarterback in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 50-44. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 28: Defensive end Trace Ford #94 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys makes his way around offensive lineman Caleb Rogers #76 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders to pressure the quarterback in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 50-44. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

OL Caleb Rogers

Playing next to Burger to begin the 2021 season will be right tackle, Caleb Rogers.  After a respectable showing as a true freshman in 2020, he’s ready to be a full-time starter and whether or not he can handle that job will be one of the keys to the reconstruction of Texas Tech’s offensive line.

Rogers played in nine games last fall making the start at left tackle in the final three.  Now, he’s added 15 pounds to his frame to get to 305 pounds and that should help him in a huge way.

But there is pressure on Rogers to perform as this year’s team has a respectable option behind him should he falter.  Former JUCO transfer Ethan Carde was the man Rogers replaced as the starting tackle eight games into the 2020 season and he not only remains on the roster, he’s feeling much better after playing all of last year with a back injury.  Should Rogers prove to be ineffective, Carde could challenge for Roger’s starting spot.

It will be key for the offensive line to be better than it was a year ago.  Statistically, that unit was fine as it surrendered only 1.60 sacks per game, 30th best in the nation.

But much of that was because former OC David Yost game-planned around his OL.  His desire was to get rid of the football as quickly as possible and his obsession with bubble screens and short passes helped keep the line from being exposed (but they also frustrated fans to no end as they limited what the offense could do).

This year, new offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie wants to be more creative, more dynamic, and more explosive.  But for that to happen, the line must do its part.

We have confidence in new left tackle T.J. Storment because he was a second-team All-Big 12 honoree a season ago at TCU.  But we aren’t as certain that Rogers is ready to be a full-time starter in the Big 12 yet.  If he proves that he is, this line could take a collective step forward and be one of the better ones in the conference.

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