Texas Tech has been struggling to hold on to some players to return in 2014. That trend sort of continued Thursday with news that starting offensive lineman Beau Carpenter was dismissed from the team.
The reason for the dismissal, first reported by RedRaiderSports.com via Twitter, has not been reported beyond anything than the standard violation of team rules. Carpenter was a key member of the Texas Tech offensive line in 2013, starting at right guard for the Red Raiders.#TexasTech OG Beau Carpenter has been dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules.
— RedRaiderSports.com (@RedRaiderSports) January 23, 2014
Carpenter, who would have been a senior in 2014, started 17 career games for #TexasTech.
— RedRaiderSports.com (@RedRaiderSports) January 23, 2014
It was expected Carpenter would continue to be a fixture in the offensive line in 2014 for Texas Tech. A dismissed player can always have a door opened for a potential return of course. Without knowing the exact reason for the dismissal we should probably at least leave the door open a crack just in case. If Carpenter does not return to the Red Raiders in 2014 though, the right guard position may be filled by James Polk, who had been listed behind Carpenter on the depth chart as recently as Texas Tech’s bowl game last season. Polk would actually bring more size up front, as he was most recently listed
The Dallas Morning News mentions Alfredo Morales and Baylen Brown as candidates to compete for the sudden vacancy on the line as well, in addition to freshmen Cody Hayes and Josh Outlaw.
