The center position could effect depth chart at guard

Zach Yenser said the day after fall camp started he wanted to settle in a rotation with eight players by the end of fall camp.

Fall camp started with 14 offensive linemen with a chance to get into that group of eight. There are a few practices left before the players move back into their normal living area and fall camp officially ends. Next Monday is the first day of classes so players will start a routine that leads into preparation for Rhode Island.

So far Yenser has been shuffling linemen around to get the best combination of players. He doesn’t care what position of strength a lineman is, they are going to play where the team needs them. Between players being “nicked up” in camp as David Beaty called it, and new players making a move up the depth chart, Yenser will keep moving players until he feels the right line-up is ready for week one.

“You might be listed as a right tackle but you are going to play where we need you to play,” Yenser said. “We’re going to play the best five. If that means (D’Andre) Banks bumping over to left tackle then he’s going to bump over to left. Those guys made a promise to me just like I made a promise to them that they will do whatever this team needs.”

In the last scrimmage Banks moved from right tackle to the left side. Banks arrived at Kansas in 2015 as a right guard where he played for Trinity Valley Community College. He started at right guard in nine games last season.

“He’s played well and he’s a good football player,” Yenser said. “I have confidence whether I put him and right tackle, left tackle, right guard that he is going to play well.”

The other key position battle on the line to watch is center. Yenser said Joe Gibson and Mesa Ribordy have both been running with the one group. If Ribordy ends up as the second team center, he will then move to guard where he would compete with Jason Bragg and Jayson Rhodes for the starting position.

“It is a battle every day with Joe and Mesa,” Yenser said. “Mesa runs with the one’s, and Joe runs with the one’s. Or Mesa is running right guard and Bragg is running right guard. Or one day Mesa may be competing Rhodes at left guard.”