Texas Tech dismissed its leading returning-tackler. (USATSI)

Texas Tech announced Thursday morning that linebacker Dakota Allen, as well as offensive linemen Robert Castaneda and Trace Ellison, have been removed from the team.

The reasoning behind the move was your typically vague "failure to uphold student-athlete expectations."

Allen is the headliner here, as he was the team's leading returning tackler with Micah Awe graduating. Allen played in 12 games as a redshirt freshman last season, and finished second on the team with 87 tackles, including six tackles for loss. He also picked off two passes. Allen was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team following the season.

Considering the Red Raiders defense was one of the worst in the Big 12 last season (only Kansas allowed more points per game and yards per play than Tech), the team really isn't in a position to lose one of its best players.

Of course, while Allen is the big name, the losses of both Castaneda and Ellison could be felt as well. Both were reserve linemen last season, though Castaneda appeared in 13 games, and Ellison was a three-star member of Tech's 2015 recruiting class.

It's unclear whether either had a realistic shot at starting in 2016, but the loss of both still has a direct impact on Texas Tech's offensive line depth.