Texas Tech football freshman Kasen Long switched sides of the line this week. How long will it last? Maybe a few days. Maybe longer.

It could be up to him.

"The outside linebackers are thin right now," Tech coach Joey McGuire said Friday, "so if he does show promise we'll leave him there."

Long, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound Shallowater graduate, signed with the Red Raiders in December and joined the program in January. On signing day, McGuire projected Long as an offensive tackle.

Defensive edge player Isaac Smith continues rehabilitation from knee surgery in the fall, though, and Joseph Adedire is limited this spring as he recovers from a late-season injury. The position is further thinned for the moment by minor injuries to Dylan Spencer, Isaiah Crawford (knee tendinitis) and Sam Carrell (foot).

Long was tapped to go over and help. Makes sense. McGuire cited Long's size, his being athletic and 260 pounds. That, and he was first-team all-district on both sides of the line last season for Shallowater.

"The great thing about recruiting small-town kids," McGuire said, "is they're used to playing both ways, so they don't blink. Guys usually coming from bigger schools, they've never done that, so it's kind of sometimes odd to them and they're not as receptive of doing that.

"Man, Kasen's one of those guys with an infectious personality. He's all about the team. He's fired up to be a Red Raider."

McGuire said Long is working at the field-side edge, the position at which Myles Cole was the starter last season and Tyree Wilson the year before.

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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football freshman Kasen Long switches sides -- for how long?