Nick Broeker found 'crazy' motivation in decision to return to Ole Miss for final season
There were several factors at play that Nick Broeker considered when he made the decision to return to Ole Miss. Most of them were fairly obvious but one that was never on Broeker’s radar was the length of his arms.
When Broeker received feedback from the NFL after submitting an inquiry prior to deciding to enter the NFL Draft or not there was one glaring item that stuck with the Ole Miss offensive lineman.
The criticism was that his arms were not long enough to play at tackle in the NFL. Something that is not necessarily anything Broeker can to remedy that situation. He is not Stretch Armstrong and cannot make his arms any longer than they already are.
“It was kind of crazy because there’s nothing I can do to try and change that,” Broeker said on Monday at SEC Media Days. “There’s no work I can do to change that. It’s just kind of is what it is. It was kind of crazy to me, especially a thing like that. What they take into consideration and just shows you that how much the game is different at the next level. That even like an inch like that can even change things.”
With that unique piece of information in hand Broeker is making the move from tackle to guard this season.
Broeker has never played the guard position before in his career, but is making the change as he sees it is one that can benefit him and his prospects at the next level. The move is also one that can benefit Ole Miss’ offensive front in 2022.
Despite moving a couple feet to the left or right on the offensive line sounds simple on paper but there is more to it than Broeker lining up in a new spot.
“It’s different,” Broeker said. “Schematically, it’s pretty nice. There’s not a ton of variation in what we’re doing it. There’s a ton of differences just within the play. There’s a lot less space at guard than there is at tackle. But so far I’ve really enjoyed guard.”
The evaluation was a bittersweet pill for Broeker. On the one hand there was the feeling he was being told he has the skill set to play in the NFL. Then on the other hand Broeker is also being told a drawback to playing a position he has played most of his life at the next level is due to something out of his control to improve.
“I try to always find something that will make me work harder, give me a little motivation and a little chip on the shoulder,” Broeker said. “I think that’s something.”
Aside from wanting to take the criticisms from the NFL evaluators and build off it there is also another reason Broeker is returning to Oxford.
Ole Miss reached the Sugar Bowl and a New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 2016, when the Rebels were last in the Sugar Bowl. The game was not one to remember as Baylor came away with the victory.
With a seasoned group around Broeker on the offensive line and the way Ole Miss’ 2021 campaign concluded there is a sense of unfinished business within the locker room.
“We kind of saw success but we still have that sour taste in our mouth from the last game we played in,” Broeker said.
