76 days until Texas Football: Hayden Conner enters Year 3 leaner in preparation for a variety of roles
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 76 days until kickoff. No. 76 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Hayden Conner, a junior offensive lineman.
Hayden Conner season outlook
Kyle Flood tinkered with the offensive line during 2022 preseason training camp and ultimately settled on Conner at left guard. Like his four other position mates, Conner started every game at left guard with Kelvin Banks to his left and Jake Majors to his right.
Conner had his ups and downs. He had a season-long average PFF grade of 66.5 pass blocking but a run blocking mark of 50.8, with a season-low grade of 41.7 coming versus Alabama.
Spring created competition for Conner, but he emerged from the 15 practices as the first man up at left guard even after working some at center during March and April. While maturation in the room from Neto Umeozulu, DJ Campbell, Malik Agbo, and others will create more for Conner to overcome, he enters the season leaner (listed at 314 pounds as opposed to his 324-pound mark in 2022 and 333-pound number in 2021) and more mature in the system.
As he did last year, Flood could tinker with the line during preseason camp and try Conner at all three interior offensive line positions. Even with talented youngsters on his heels, there’s a spot for Conner in the Texas first five in the fall.
Connor has played in 21 games with 13 starts (all in 2022) in his two seasons on the 40 Acres. He is a three-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2021, fall 2021, fall 2022).
Hayden Conner as a recruit
Conner was ranked as the No. 389 overall prospect, the No. 32 offensive tackle, and the No. 55 player in Texas in the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.
Recent player to wear No. 76: Kent Perkins
Perkins saw action in 39 games in his four-year career at Texas and had 34 starts (22 at right guard/12 at right tackle). He was a 2016 second team All-Big 12 selection.
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All-Americans to wear No. 76
Derrick Dockery, OL, 2002
Jerry Sisemore, T, 1971 and 1972
Steve Habel co-authored this article
