What McGuire didn’t know at that time was that Davion Carter, the Memphis transfer battling for spots at both center and right guard, would also be sidelined for the first part of practice as well.
Carter was seen Thursday sporting an orthopedic boot on his right foot, which McGuire said is due to the 6-foot, 290 pounder rolling his ankle early in Wednesday’s practice.
“We’ve done everything,” McGuire said. “We feel good that he’ll progress back.”
McGuire didn’t specify a timeline for Carter’s return to the field, though didn’t seem too worried about it either. Maurice Rodriques, the 6-foot-7 JUCO transfer, battled a stomach issue early in Thursday’s practice though was able to finish the session.
Porcher, out of the spring, is limited with a nagging hamstring injury. McGuire said earlier this week that Porcher (6-4, 315), who transferred from Middle Tennessee State, should be back within a week or so.
With those two sidelined to start camp, the Red Raiders have had to shuffle its offensive line a bit. Dalton Merryman is getting extra time in Porcher’s spot at left tackle. Caleb Rogers, Tech’s lone returning starter up front, was already occupying the right guard spot ahead of Carter in the depth chart.
Rogers’ position on the line has been in question since the multi-year starter announced his intentions to move to the inside of the line back in December after spending his first four years at tackle. Whether he was moving to center or guard was up in the air between the end of last season and the start, though he’s settled in at guard.
