Senior offensive tackle Mark Shuman is giving up football after tearing his right meniscus for the third time. Shuman first tore his meniscus in 2011, and then again the preseason last year. Thus ends the injury plagued career of the former 4-star recruit.
Shuman began camp #1 on the depth chart at right tackle. True sophomore Jonathan McLaughlin, who started at left tackle a year ago, will now take over the right tackle position. Laurence Gibson remains the starter at left tackle.
With the loss of Shuman, Tech’s depth at offensive tackle is precariously thin. Parker Osterloh (r-Fr.) and Billy Ray Mitchell (Fr.) are backing up Gibson at left tackle. The other right tackles are Colt Pettit (Fr.), Wade Hansen (r-Jr.) and Adam Taraschke (r-So.). Hansen was just moved from defensive tackle earlier this week, while Taraschke returned to the program in the spring after sitting out last season.
Ideally either Hansen or Taraschke will step up and earn a spot in the two-deep, because Pettit and Mitchell are in need of a redshirt so they can add size and strenght. Wyatt Teller (r-Fr.) and Augie Conte (r-So.) have experience in practice as offensive tackles, though Conte is currently starting at right guard and Teller is a potential starter at left guard.
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