Nine practices into training camp, Kansas is still doing what it has done in recent summers: poking and prodding the offensive line until the coaches like what they see.
That process has become part of the routine in Lawrence. Last year, Amir Herring ended up winning the left guard job after James Livingston and Tavake Tuikolovatu spent months battling for it.
The year before, KU moved its offensive tackles around in the middle of camp. This August, the line is again in motion as the staff works to find its best five.
The biggest development right now is in the middle. For the past week, Herring has been taking snaps with the other centers, Kasen Carpenter and Anderson Kopp, and he has been getting most of the first-team work there since Carpenter missed a practice earlier in the week.
Carpenter has returned, but he still does not appear to be fully back. On Friday, Lance Leipold said Carpenter "practiced some," and the staff has continued leaning on Herring at center after shifting him over from left guard.
What the coaches want most is stability.
"Got to be consistent with snaps," Leipold said. "As we know, Amir's extremely physical.
He's athletic. So I like either unit that's out there, and we'll just have to see how it goes through camp.
But will Amir play some center this year? I would definitely think so."
For now, KU is still sorting through options, and the center spot remains one of the key things to watch as camp moves deeper into its most important stretch.
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