Nick Broeker returned to Ole Miss with new goals and a new position in mind
Depending on what day of the week you asked him, Nick Broeker might have told you he was going to return to Ole Miss or go ahead and leave early for the NFL Draft like many of his 2021 teammates.
When decision time came, Broeker made the choice to come back to Oxford for one final run with a new set of goals in place and for a specific reason.
Going through the feedback process that many players do before making the final call to bolt for the NFL Draft or stay in school, Broeker kept hearing the same things. So, that led to him making the request to his coaches to move him around on the offensive line.
That move entailed going from left tackle to left guard and so far, so good for Broeker as spring practices have just gotten underway.
“It’s going really well so far,” Broeker said. “So far, I’ve really enjoyed it, learning something new. It’s something that I’ve felt really comfortable with so far. I’m very excited about the move.
“When I was thinking about entering the draft last year, a lot of my feedback was, at the next level, I’m a top-flight guard and everything, so I think that’s what kind of made me decide to make the switch.”
Broeker’s move is not the only one up front. In fact it is part of a few moves on the offensive line that also included Caleb Warren becoming the new starting center and Jeremy James moving to Broeker’s former spot the last three seasons at left tackle.
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Western Kentucky transfer Mason Brooks is handling duties at right tackle while Eli Acker is working with the ones at right guard, though that could be a revolving door with a few players through spring and maybe into fall camp.
The shifting and adapting to new spots is a smooth transition so far, according to Broeker. Part of that reason is due to the experience of the players who are making the aforementioned moves.
That experience and seasoned group of players is the reason for one of the largest personal goals Broeker is setting for himself this fall; winning the Joe Moore Award which is given to the top offensive line in college football.
It is also the only award given to a specific group and not to an individual player who excels at that specific position. Michigan won the award last season but three SEC offensive fronts have won the award since its creation in 2015, including Alabama twice (2020, 2015).
“I think for us, that would mean everything to us, as far as the room goes,” Broeker said of potentially winning the Joe Moore Award. “It’s the most prestigious award given to an offensive line and it’s the only award given to a group. We are really striving for it and really thinking about it. It’s kind of always on our mind.”
