Gophers' New Guard Showing Grit, Skill On Offensive Line
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Gopher football team is now two practices into training camp.
One of the areas getting a lot of coach Jerry Kill's attention is the offensive line. He's got two starters to replace.
The new guy at left guard has all the right qualities.
Kill likes tough guys. And they don't get much tougher than Jon Christenson, who broke his leg two years ago against Indiana, played 12 games last year with a one-pound steel rod in his leg, and is back for more this season.
"When you get him in between the white lines he's a different guy," Kill said. "He's mean, tough, and he'll get after you."
Christenson had the rod removed this spring, after having it for 15 months to support his recovering bones.
"I feel great," he said. "And it's amazing coming out here and playing without pain like I did last year and flying around. And obviously we don't have pads on so it's a little bit limited but it's really, really neat to be able to move well, pain free. (I) feel strong, feel quick, it's awesome."
Add some smarts to the mix. He's already graduated with a degree in biochemistry.
"Only guy I know that's got his medical book in the training room," Kill quipped.
And he has experience too. Christenson's played all three interior offensive line positions -- knowledge that makes a big difference.
"It's neat how you kind of get a better idea of how the whole offense works, playing right guard, center, left guard," Christenson said. "I know what both tackles do, so it really helps, especially when defenses throw blitzes at you or twists at you, because you have to trade guys off. So if someone takes your guy then you've got to take his, so being able to know who has each guy is really an advantage."
Throw in some leadership on top of all that.
"Jon's one of the finest young men you'll ever meet," Kill said. "Whether it's on the field or off the field."
And you've got the perfect player, a guy Kill will really be relying on this year.
"If I took somebody that's what you want in a football player and a person, he's a pretty good one," Kill said. "If you had a son, that's what you'd want him like."