Texas Football: 3 significant position changes late in spring camp
Hayden Conner, OL
Another interesting move along the interior offensive line for Flood and the Longhorns this spring involved getting junior guard Hayden Conner reps at center. That same IT report from Nahlin noted the move for Conner to get some reps as the second-team center in the last week or so in spring practice.
Conner reportedly took the second-team center reps in practice and the scrimmage setting on April 6 and 7. It sounds like that gave the former blue-chip recruit and redshirt freshman interior offensive lineman Neto Umeozulu the opportunity to get some first and second-team reps at left guard while Conner was taking snaps at center.
This is a bit surprising to see Conner getting second-team reps at center. There was a lot of buzz surrounding his performances in the last couple of weeks in practice and the closed scrimmages. We heard that he was the driving force that led to the improved reliability of the interior blocking on passing and run plays.
But this move likely signifies two things for the Longhorns along the interior offensive line.
First is that Flood clearly still is looking for answers at the center position. Last offseason, Flood tried his hand at giving senior interior offensive lineman Junior Angilau reps at first-team center before he suffered an unfortunate season-ending knee injury.
Now, Flood and the Longhorns are giving another experienced interior offensive lineman important reps at center in Conner.
Another reason why Flood and the Longhorns are likely giving Conner looks at center late this spring has to do with depth concerns at the position behind junior Jake Majors. Texas hasn’t sounded too confident in the former converted defensive lineman and third-year IOL Sawyer Goram-Welch this spring.
Goram-Welch took the bulk of the second-team reps at center in the absence of sophomore center Conner Robertson due to injury. But Conner has apparently taken the bulk of the second-team reps at center late this week.