Green ready for move to left tackle
All-american set to lead rebuilt line
COLLEGE STATION — Allamerican Kenyon Green has every intention of becoming entrenched at left tackle for Texas A&M, with the all-important job of protecting his quarterback’s blind side on every snap.
Ironically, Green is in a position to do that after heeding his father’s advice to be willing to play anywhere on the line while learning the ins and outs of football back home in Atascocita.
“When I was little my dad, Henry Green, just instilled in me, ‘Learn everything you can — it can help you in the future,’ ” Kenyon Green recalled. “That’s helping me — I can play anything. I’m comfortable at center, guard and tackle.”
A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is counting on Green focusing on the last of those positions after two standout seasons on the inside. Last year he developed into a consensus All-american at left guard.
“He’ll go down as one of the best we’ve had here,” Fisher said.
The Aggies have had some good ones, especially from the Mike Sherman era (2008-2011). His recruiting produced four first-round picks on the offensive line from 2013 to 2016: Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews, Cedric Ogbuehi and Germain Ifedi.
Since Fisher’s arrival from Florida State in December 2017, recruiting on the offensive line is on the uptick again, with Green as a five-star prospect out of Atascocita High highlighting the haul to date.
He has lived up to every one of those five stars, and now as the line’s veteran he’ll be counted on to lead four new starters.
Tackles Dan Moore Jr and Carson Green, center Ryan Mccollum and guard Jared Hocker form one of the nation’s top lines last season are giving the NFL a shot, although they all had the option to return for one more round after the NCAA didn’t count a season of eligibility in 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We can’t really duplicate that same O-line, but we can work on what we can get better at as a group with this unit,” Kenyon Green said. “Just work on the fundamentals, like always, so we can have a connection, a bond, like we did last year.”
Kenyon Green (6-4, 325) played tackle in high school, and after his willingness to move inside where Fisher believed he needed him most early in his
career, Green is back where he’s perhaps at his best.
“I’m loving getting back in the groove of being on the outside,” Green said. “At guard you can ‘stone’ people — you can get on them quick. At tackle you’ve got to be a little more patient, be more loose. I was (focusing) on strength and stoning people. Now I’ve got to be more finesse.”
While every position but left tackle is up in the air — and Fisher has described spring as a time for experimentation at most spots — a potential starting offensive line might consist of Green at left tackle, Layden Robinson at left guard, Luke Matthews at center, Aki Ogunbiyi at right guard and Tennessee transfer Jahmir Johnson at right tackle.
Green, Robinson and Matthews are the three most likely starters at this point. Robinson filled in admirably for a dingedup Hocker here and there last season, and Matthews is returning from a shoulder injury.
Matthews is the youngest son of NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, the former Oiler. Luke Matthews’ three older brothers — Kevin, the aforementioned Jake and Mike — all played at A&M over the past 15 years.
“I’ve been pleased with Luke,” Fisher said of the youngest Matthews during spring drills, which wrap up with the spring game April 24 at Kyle Field. “We practice him and give him little breaks and rest because we don’t want to tear up (his shoulder). With his knowledge of what’s going on up front, he’s a really good anchor and making really good calls.
“He’s understanding what’s going on on the defensive side of the ball, to get us in the right blocking schemes.”
Kenyon Green added of Matthews: “Center is probably the hardest position on the line. You’ve got to (read defenses), you’ve got to snap the ball, you have to make the little adjustments. You’re a leader and you’re where the play starts.
“Luke is doing a phenomenal job coming back from his injury.”
The Aggies were fourth in the final Associated Press poll last season, their highest finish since winning the national title in 1939. They open Sept. 4 against Kent State at Kyle Field.
In the meantime, Green will continue mentoring his young teammates on the line. “You have to lock in and be a student of the game,” Green said of his advice to up-and-coming teammates. “You have to be on top of everything, in practice and in the film room. And, of course, have fun with the game — you don’t want to come out here dreading the game.
“That’s the most important thing: Have fun with it.”