Spring preview: How does Tech retool OL group?

Texas Tech will be tasked with establishing a new core with both its offensive and defensive lines after losing starters on both sides. The Red Raiders were well prepared by adding another four offensive linemen in their 2016 signing class.

For the first time in several years left tackle is an open position headed into spring practices. No longer do the Red Raiders have the luxury of relying on Le’Raven Clark to shoulder the responsibility of neutralizing the best edge rusher from opposing teams and there’s no simple solution to replacing Clark’s production up front.

Clark started in 51 games as a Red Raider. During that time he earned second-team All-American honors and three All-Big 12 selections. His stability at the position helped offensive line coach Lee Hays establish a veteran group that allowed 40 sacks spanning 25 games over the last two seasons.

Moving forward, sophomore lineman Justin Murphy is a likely candidate to takeover Clark’s duties on the left side. Murphy’s aggressiveness caught the attention of his position coach last season. Hays even believed Murphy had an inside shot at earning All-Big 12 recognition prior to his season-ending injury.

Left tackle won’t be the only spot up for grabs in spring practices. The Red Raiders listed six seniors on last season’s roster, including three starters.

Tech will need to address a glaring need at center after losing both Jared Kaster and Tony Morales. Morales started at right guard for the Red Raiders while doubling as Kaster’s backup at center. Kaster appeared in 50 games over his career, including 38 starts while Morales appeared 46 in games, making 36 starts. Tech’s group upfront over the past two seasons has consisted of upperclassmen with an established cohesion and chemistry as a group.

With a new group adapting to new roles, their coaches demands and learning the facets of each other’s games, spring practices will be a transition period, good or bad. Quarterbacks still get special jerseys, right?

Murphy remains as one of two returning starters from last season’s group with Baylen Brown also set to return. Madison Akamnonu could be in the fold for a starting tackle position as well. The tall, athletic, rangy lineman is beginning to become a recruiting blueprint for Hays. He believes it’s easier from a depth standpoint to add linemen as tackles with big frames and then move them inside if necessary as opposed to training inside linemen to play tackle. With that said, Connor Dyer and Poet Thomas could also be in the mix for a tackle position and slide inside as needed along with Robert Castaneda and Ethan Smith.

Youth will be a theme for Tech’s offensive line in the coming seasons. The Red Raiders currently list 12 underclassmen on their roster at offensive line and welcomed four more on National Signing Day. All four fit Hays’ athletic mold.

“It’s a very smart group. I think it’s the smartest offensive line group, when you talk about GPA’s and test scores, I’ve been around,” said head coach Kliff Kingsbury. “All of them are different. [Travis Bruffy] is a baseball player, being 6-foot-7, throws 85 miles per hour - very skilled, great feet. [Giovanni Pancotti] is a state champion wrestler, so he has that aspect. [Bailey Smith] has a 4.0, kind of a mauler, under-the-radar guy. So they all bring something different.

“[Zach Adams] is a big, physical young man. I think early on he had Penn State and Miami. When you turn on the tape, he’s just a very massive human. Plays physical, has a nasty attitude – very disciplined young man. His dad works for the Federal Government so you can tell he was brought up in that type of environment.”