Football Roster Breakdown: Offensive Line

The Red Raiders will look to their offensive line to be one of their strong points this year as they return four out of the five starters from a year ago. This offensive line was quietly one of the better fronts in the Big 12 last year as they only allowed 1.60 sacks a game which ranked 30th in the nation and 3rd in the Big 12 for fewest sacks allowed. This will be an experienced offensive line not only age wise but game experience as well. Look for new Offensive Coordinator Sonny Cumbie and Offensive Line Coach Steve Farmar to use this to their advantage.

LT: TJ Storment

TJ Storment will likely get the start for the Red Raiders this season at that Left Tackle position. He is a transfer from TCU where he started 7 of the 9 games for the Horned Frogs. This will be his fifth program that he has played for in his collegiate career, with the other four being: Old Dominion, Fullerton College, Colorado State, and TCU. The 6’7 senior has 19 starts in his career which will help bring a lot of experience to the line. Storment also earned himself All-Big 12 Second Team last year according to the Associated Press.

LG: Weston Wright

Wright moved to Left Guard after previously being the starter at Right Guard, and he started all 10 games for Tech last season at Left Guard and has 18 starts total in his career, so he will look to hold that position going into the fall. Wright was also an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 last season.

C: Dawson Deaton

Deaton is going into the season with 23 career starts under his belt, where 22 of those have been consecutive starts at Center for the Red Raiders. He started all 10 games last season. Deaton was also awarded the position by becoming one of the Team Captains. Deaton earned himself All-Big 12 Second Team last season.

RG: Casey Verhulst

Verhulst will look to make his starting debut for the Red Raiders this season. He appeared in four games last season before being sidelined the rest of the year with an injury. The junior Guard was primarily the backup last season, so look for him to take the reins and earn that starting spot.

RT: Josh Burger

Burger is coming into this season as the most experienced lineman with the most career starts. Burger transferred to Tech last season from Wofford. He started all 10 games for the Red Raiders at Right Tackle pushing his consecutive games started to 35. Look for him to continue that stretch and be a big leader on that offensive line.

Caleb Rodgers

Rodgers developed into an instant freshmen for the Red Raiders last season. He appeared in 9 games and started the last three games of the season at Left Tackle for the Red Raiders. During that three game stretch, only four sacks were given up by the offensive line. Rodgers was one of four Red Raider true freshmen to start in a game. Look for Rodgers to hold that backup tackle position, while also have the flexibility to play guard if need be.

Matt Keeler

Keeler transferred to Tech from Coffeyville Community College while redshirting as a freshmen. He will have four years of eligibility remaining. Keeler will look to make an impact at either the tackle or guard position. He was a 3-Star prospect coming out of high school according to Rivals and 247Sports.

This is a deep offensive line, which should help the Red Raiders in the upcoming season. Look for a few of these guys to be named to awards watch lists. The Red Raiders will be one of the more experienced offensive lines in the Big 12, and with the way offenses are run that will definitely play to their advantage.