Texas Football: 3 possible position changes to watch in spring ball

Christian Jones

Old/current position: Offensive tackle

New position: Guard

The definitive bold prediction on this list for potential position changes to watch for the Longhorns heading into spring ball lies here.

I think there will be at least some movement along the offensive line in terms of position changes during the spring as offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood still tries to find his optimal personnel group.

Texas returns every starter from last season’s O-Line group in 2023. That includes a pair of rock-solid offensive tackles in freshman Kelvin Banks Jr. and senior Christian Jones.

While Jones is coming off the best and most consistent season of his career during the 2022 campaign, he could still be moved to a different spot along the line if it benefits the offense, as a whole. I think there is at least a slight possibility that Jones slides to the interior to open up a starting spot for rising sophomore offensive tackle Cam Williams.

No matter what, it looks like Williams will be able to still push for a starting job opposite of Banks at right tackle this season. If Williams has a strong showing at the outset of spring camp, I think it is a legitimate possibility that Flood and the Longhorns kick the tires on the idea of moving Jones to guard.

That might be better for Jones as his long-term projection in the NFL is probably along the interior of the offensive line. I don’t think Jones has shown he has the chops as a pass blocker to make it as an offensive tackle in the NFL.

And the fact that Jones has always excelled as a run blocker more than in pass-blocking, he could still be a major asset to the interior offensive line.

It would also make sense to move Jones to the interior to add some depth in the midst of some of the injuries that Flood and the Longhorns are dealing with heading into the spring. Both rising sophomore center Conner Robertson and sophomore guard Cole Hutson could miss all of spring camp as they recover from various injuries.

Jones is one of the potential candidates to watch that could move spots along the offensive line heading into spring ball. A few others that could be moved around in the spring are rising junior Hayden Conner, redshirt freshman Malik Agbo, and redshirt junior center Sawyer Goram-Welch.