DALLAS - Going into the 2015 season, Texas Tech's offensive line was widely considered to be the strength of the team. That turned out to be a valid assumption, as the big boys up front paved the way for a record-setting Red Raider offense.
Heading into this fall, however, the unit is a question mark. The 2015 group of seniors - Le'Raven Clark, Alfredo Morales, Jared Kaster and Emeka Okafor - are now gone, leaving some big shoes to fill.
There are still a few returning stalwarts for the unit, however. That includes senior Baylen Brown, who's currently slated to move over to left tackle from the right side of the line where he played both guard and tackle a year ago.
He's one of the most experienced linemen in the conference, and he's the rock of this somewhat inexperienced group. At Big 12 Media Days, Brown noted that he feels good with where the chemistry is with the starting group, especially when it comes to senior center Tony Morales and guard Justin Murphy, who's coming off a knee injury.
“Me and Tony Morales have been really close ever since I got here," Brown said. "Me and Murphy are also really close. He’s one of my really good friends. He might be next to me on the left side as a guard there. Even Terence Steele, who will probably be our right tackle, he’s a good guy that has really opened up. He was quiet at first, but he’s really become one of the more outspoken guys in our group. We have one more guard spot that’s kind of open. But, every guy that could take that spot, I think we feel pretty confident in right there. We really have a good group camaraderie. We hang out on the weekends, hang out during the week, so that’s good for us I think.”
Morales has quite the story. He was a four-star center out of high school in 2011, but injuries derailed his first four years as a Red Raider. He finally shook the injury bug last fall and was the offensive line's sixth man, earning a few spot starts along the way.
Now, entering his sixth season thanks to a medical hardship waiver, Morales is back as the starting center for this group, something Brown is very excited about.
“I’m happy for Tony. He’s had a really rough break with knee and shoulder injuries,” Brown said. “It’s his time. He got a little playing time last year and stayed healthy, which is really good. But, him coming back, he’s a really smart center. But, I mean, remember, he was really highly recruited. There’s a reason why. His knowledge of the game and leading our offensive line at the center spot, that’s going to nice to have him in there.
“He’s a quiet guy, but he’s playing really hard. He’s playing like he should’ve over the last four years. He’s taken (Jared) Kaster’s spot pretty well, and it’s actually nice to have Kaster as a coach now, so he’s been a really good mentor for him there. He knows what’s going on.”
Kaster, who was Texas Tech's starting center over the last four seasons, is now a quality control assistant for the Red Raiders and works alongside offensive line coach Lee Hays with the offensive line group.
It's a bit odd for Brown, who played with him the last three years, but he couldn't be happier to have a guy he respects as the eyes and ears of the offensive line on the sidelines.
“We’ve been roommates ever since freshman year when we travel, and I’ve played next to him for three years, so it’s kind of weird because he’s one of my really good friends," Brown said. "But, it’s kind of nice to have him around. It’s nice to have someone there like that you have respect for because he played next to you and knows our offense as good as anybody. It’s nice to still have him around.”
But with Kaster and others gone, a number of unfamiliar faces will plant their cleats at the line of scrimmage for Texas Tech. That includes redshirt freshman tackle Terence Steele, who has generated a decent amount of buzz over the offseason.
“He’s a big kid," Brown said. "He’s like 6-7, 320 pounds right now, and he’s one of the strongest kids on our team. He’s a perfect tackle body type, and he really came in this spring and played good at right tackle. He’s the future there. He’s gonna be an NFL guy later on.”
The Red Raiders also welcomed in a batch of newcomers on the offensive line, including a crew of four true freshmen and a JUCO transfer. Brown feels they've come in and taken care of business so far and are on track to be a big part of the program's future.
“They’ve come in, a little light with their weight, but other than that they look promising. Another guy, a JUCO guy named Jack Reichel, he’s been really solid, Then you’ve got Gio (Pancotti), Bailey (Smith), Zach (Adams) and (Travis) Bruffy. They’ll be good for the future of Texas Tech.”
And while Brown's opinion on the development of the offensive line is incredibly important, the guy they'll be protecting's thoughts on the matter should be noted, too.
Red Raider fans will be pleased to hear that junior signal caller Patrick Mahomes sentiments echo those of his left tackle, and he's happy with the progress the unit made this summer.
“They’re ready," he said. "We still have a lot of guys with some starts in Baylen Brown, Justin Murphy, and Tony Morales, guys that have played Big 12 football before. Then you have a guy who’s such a huge talent in Terence Steele. I don’t know how he went so under the radar recruiting-wise. He’s a monster out there. Then we have Madison Akamnonu, Cody Wheeler, and Paul Stawarz seem to be guys competing for that last open spot.”
