FCS all-conference tackle commits to Texas Tech
The Texas Tech football team took another step toward rebuilding its offensive line when the Red Raiders picked up a commitment Sunday night from Michael Shanahan, a first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference offensive tackle from FCS playoff team Tennessee-Martin.
Shanahan, listed by UT-Martin at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, started every game this season at left tackle as the Skyhawks went 10-3. It was his fourth season in the program, so with the NCAA-issued free year of eligibility for 2020, he has two years left to play.
Tech, which finished 7-6, loses starting center Dawson Deaton, guard Josh Burger and tackle T.J. Storment.
Shanahan is the third offensive lineman who recently has announced plans to transfer to Tech. Cade Briggs, who started at left tackle for New Mexico, committed to the Red Raiders in December. Monroe Mills, a young backup for two seasons at Oklahoma State, committed to the Red Raiders last week.
During 11 regular-season games in 2021, Shanahan played every offensive snap and was credited with 91 knockdown blocks and charged with only one sack allowed in 288 pass attempts. UT-Martin ranked 15th out of 123 FCS teams in rushing offense at 206.7 yards per game and 40th in total offense at 385.8 yards per game.
Shanahan's name went into the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 6 and attracted numerous suitors, most from group-of-five programs. He was offered scholarships by more than a dozen schools, most notably Oklahoma State, Tech, Kansas, Fresno State and Texas-San Antonio.
Tennessee-Martin's 2020 season was pushed back to the spring of 2021 because of the COVID pandemic. Shanahan started all seven games that season as the Skyhawks went 3-4.
Shanahan's younger brother T.J. Shanahan is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in Texas and No. 8 in the nation by Rivals for the class of 2023 and is ranked the No. 45 recruit in the state by 247Sports. A 6-5, 315-pound offensive lineman, T.J. Shanahan is a junior this year at Austin Westlake.
Colombi picks Marshall
Quarterback Henry Colombi, who left the Texas Tech program late in the season, announced Sunday his commitment to Marshall as a transfer.
Colombi made four starts for the Red Raiders in 2020 and five starts in 2021, all during Big 12 play. He passed for 1,065 yards and eight touchdowns in 2020 and threw for 1,291 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He also had three rushing TDs with the Red Raiders.
Colombi came to Tech after three years at Utah State and, with the free COVID year of eligibility permitted by the NCAA, has one season left to play.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: College football: FCS all-conference tackle commits to Texas Tech
