Texas Football: Christian Jones ‘continues to get stronger’ this offseason

Ahead of the start of summer workouts next month, Texas football players are getting a break during the month of May. This will be one of the quieter periods this offseason for the players on the roster in 2023, with spring camp and winter workouts now in the rearview mirror.

Thus, it is a good time to reflect on what has transpired for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns so far in 2023.

One of the focal points of spring ball for the Longhorns was how the depth chart would shake out along the offensive line. Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and the Longhorns had a lot of young depth and talent in the fold for spring ball, including a few early enrollees from the 2023 signing class.

But the most consistent performers along the offensive line this spring for Flood and the Longhorns were the returning starters, especially offensive tackles Christian Jones and Kelvin Banks Jr. Jones continued to prove his stature as one of the most consistent and reliable starters along the offensive line for Texas during the spring.

And it sounds like Banks is the best of this group coming off a stellar Freshman All-American campaign in 2022.

Jones is probably one of the most pleasant surprises along the offensive line, though, in the last year or so for Flood and the Longhorns. As recently as last offseason, it was expected that Jones would have to compete to keep a starting spot at offensive tackle heading into the 2022 season.

Texas football OT Christian Jones giving the Horns’ O-Line stability at right tackle

Yet, Jones proved to be one of the best run blockers and one of the steadier pass blockers among the starting right tackles in the Big 12 last season. Not only was Jones the highest-graded run blocker among Big 12 offensive tackles in the second half of last season, but he also allowed just one sack and a handful of QB pressures in the final 10 games of the campaign.

Jones’ improvement and steadiness along the offensive line definitely haven’t gone unnoticed early this offseason. Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas reported on May 11 (paid content) that Jones has “much quicker feet” this offseason and that he “continues to get stronger” as we head into the summer strength and conditioning program.

The fact that we’re still hearing about Jones making significant strides on and off the practice field in his sixth year on campus just goes to show how good this duo of offensive tackles could be for Texas again this fall. It also serves as a testament to some of the improved player development, especially along the offensive line for the Longhorns under Flood and Sark.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were talking about the potential of sophomore offensive lineman Cam Williams pushing Jones for the starting job at right tackle in spring ball this offseason. Yet, Jones was able to stave off any discussion of someone such as Williams pushing him for the first-team reps at right tackle early in spring camp.

Jones continued to prove himself this spring as one of the best and most consistent performers in practice and scrimmage settings.

Texas wrapped up spring camp with the Orange-White Game on April 15 at DKR. The summer semester at UT will begin on June 1, with the summer strength and conditioning program likely set to begin around that time.