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Texas Tech football: Senior Red Raiders on offense that we will hate to see go

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 14: Tahj Brooks #28 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 14: Tahj Brooks #28 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders runs for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Sep 16, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive guard Cole Spencer (70) blocks against the Tarleton State Texans in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 16, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive guard Cole Spencer (70) blocks against the Tarleton State Texans in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

OL Cole Spencer is one of the few Texas Tech offensive players with NFL potential

In some ways, it is difficult to say that we will miss left guard Cole Spencer.  That’s because we’ve hardly been able to get to know him despite the fact that he’s been on the roster for two seasons.  Still, what he can bring to the table is going to be tough to replace.

After transferring to Tech from Western Kentucky prior to last season, a back injury caused him to miss all of 2022.  However, a medical redshirt allowed him to return for one final go-round this fall.

Unfortunately, though, his time on the field in 2023 has been limited again by injury, this time a broken toe that has caused him to miss the last several games.  Thus, we haven’t been able to fully come to appreciate Spencer’s work (as much as any fan can really appreciate what any interior offensive lineman does on a weekly basis).

Make no mistake, though.  Spencer will likely get a shot to make an NFL roster and that makes him a player that you hate to lose.

If there is one place where this program still lacks elite talent more than anywhere else, it would be on the O-line.  Years of awful recruiting at that position group has forced Tech to continually play transfer portal roulette to try to build a competitive line on an annual basis.

In fact, this year, only one starter up front, Caleb Rogers, was actually recruited by Tech out of high school.  Three of the other four starters are all transfers from other FBS programs while the other, Dennis Wilburn, was a walk-on from the JUCO ranks when he joined the program prior to the 2022 season.

Spencer won’t go down as one of the best offensive linemen in recent program history but if he had been able to play a full season, maybe he would be more highly-appreciated than he is.  The reality, though, is that players of his talent along the O-line have been tough for this program to find and that’s why losing him to graduation this offseason isn’t going to be fun.

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