<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1jbS6k_0tQCeD0300" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1jbS6k_0tQCeD0300" width="474" height="248" >Like any football team in 2024, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/texas-tech/">Texas Tech</a> has several players whose performance will be particularly critical to the squad's success. These players, whether by virtue of experience, leadership, importance of the position played, depth concerns, or sheer talent, are especially crucial. They may or not be the best players on the club, but they would be very conspicuous were they to be absent for any reason. In fact, that may be the best way to conceive of the critical players—they are the performers the team could least afford to lose.No. 14Ty Buchanan6-foot-6, 310Offensive TackleJuniorCorpus Christi, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/texas/">Texas</a>Nowhere on the Texas Tech football team is improvement needed more than on the offensive line. It has been a while since the franchise had the hosses up front--and maybe the coaches, too--to be in the top half of the Big XII at this position group. And, outside of quarterback and perhaps defensive line, no component of a football team is more important than the offensive line. Offensive linemen rank at the bottom of the stack in terms of glamor, but there's not a coach alive who doesn't hanker mightily after those hogs and big uglies.And thus we see how offensive linemen, even those who have yet to exhibit any real star potential at Texas Tech, are exceptionally important to the program. More so, even than many players who put up nice numbers at other positions and thereby garner media attention.One such player is Ty Buchanan, who is presently slated to start at right tackle. This will be Buchanan's first season as a starter, but he has been squarely in the offensive line rotation since his arrival in Lubbock in 2022. We have all heard Buchanan's name spoken positively by the coaches, so there is an expectation that he will do well now that he has an opportunity to be the main dog at his position.Although Buchanan has not actually played a huge number of snaps (183 at offensive line) in his Texas Tech career, he has acquitted himself well when he has gotten on the field. For instance, his lone start last season came against <a href="https://247sports.com/college/california/">California</a> in the Independence Bowl. In that game Buchanan played 80 snaps and graded out higher than any other Texas Tech offensive lineman. Buchanan dropped into pass pro 52 times and didn't allow a single quarterback hurry. Not too shabby for a sophomore making his first start of the season, and in a bowl game at that.Buchanan, who transferred to Texas Tech after a redshirt season at <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a>, also brings versatility to the offensive line. He's equally at home at either tackle spot and is also capable of playing guard.Depth behind Buchanan at right tackle appears questionable. As of this writing the top backup is transfer <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dalton-merryman-46110313/">Dalton Merryman</a>, with freshmen <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/daniel-sill-46128348/">Daniel Sill</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/jacob-ponton-46140718/">Jacob Ponton</a> behind Merryman. If need be, <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/caleb-rogers-46059017/">Caleb Rogers</a> could swing back to tackle from guard of course, but that could create cascading disruption on the line. Best of all that Buchanan just stay healthy. He's critical enough to the team's success that you wouldn't want to lose him for any length of time.</div></body>

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Critical 20: No. 14, Ty Buchanan

Like any football team in 2024, Texas Tech has several players whose performance will be particularly critical to the squad's success. These players, whether by virtue of experience, leadership, importance of the position played, depth concerns, or sheer talent, are especially crucial. They may or not be the best players on the club, but they would be very conspicuous were they to be absent for any reason. In fact, that may be the best way to conceive of the critical players—they are the performers the team could least afford to lose.

Critical 20: No. 14, Ty Buchanan

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