Preview: All eyes on the OL
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If there's one concern with the Texas Tech offense in 2013, it's the offensive
line.
The Red Raiders must replace three starters, including both tackles, and depth
is a major concern for a third consecutive season. There just aren't enough
bodies here until the Class of 2013 enrolls for summer courses.
be adequate, but depth is completely exhausted around the eighth-best player on
the line.
The entire offense will be anchored by sophomore Le'Raven Clark at left
tackle after the 6-foot-5, 303-pounder spent last season at right guard. It
sounds cliché, but Clark will be protecting quarterback Michael Brewer's blindside. Fortunately for Tech, Clark has one year of experience
and succeeded at right guard last year.
Beau Carpenter started nine games at left guard last season and is
expected to retain his spot; a fourth-year junior, he's the grizzled veteran of
the group.
Sophomore Jared Kaster should begin the spring as the first-team
center. He will be replacing Deveric Gallington, but actually played in favor of
Gallington at times last season. Rivals.com's No. 5 center in the Class of 2012,
the 6-foot-3, 271-pound player is a natural center and showed promise in 2012.
Former JUCO transfer
Rashad Fortenberry is expected to begin spring
practice as the Red Raiders' top right tackle and rising junior
James Polk -- who has played in nine career games -- will start out at right
guard.
The Morales twins could factor in somewhere if healthy. Alfredo Morales
and Tony Morales have been plagued by injuries in their first two
seasons at Tech. Shoulder injuries causes them to redshirt in 2011, Tony Morales
missed most of the 2012 season with another shoulder injury and Alfredo Morales
was injured late last season. Their availability for the spring is questionable.
Matt Wilson's availability is also up in the air. He sustained a knee
injury last fall which sidelined him for the entire season.
With the Morales brothers and Wilson potentially limited or unavailable,
Trey Keenan will need to have a big spring. The Argyle product
impressed during his redshirt season, and now has an opportunity to push for
playing time in his first spring on campus.
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PRESSURE IS ON: Clark will move from right guard, where he
started 13 games in 2012, to the most important position on the offensive line
-- left tackle -- for the 2013 season. There is no doubting his talent or
ability, but Clark will be thrust into a very prominent role relatively early on
in his collegiate career. There are others on the offensive line with perhaps
more to prove this spring, but the spotlight will be on Clark.
BIGGEST QUESTION: Who emerges on the right side of the
offensive line? The left side, with Clark at left tackle and Carpenter at left
guard, doesn't seem like a huge question mark. Things are more fluid on the
right side, although Polk (guard) and Fortenberry (tackle) will likely start out
the spring running with the first team.