North Charlotte Today

Words come easily for Austin Corbett, who has moved to center this offseason, requiring him to communicate more with the offensive line. For Panthers center Brady Christensen, communication is a newer skill he is developing. Describing himself as a "naturally shy" kid, Christensen explained that adjusting to his new role has been challenging.

"If you ask my parents, I think they're surprised every time they see me in front of the media talking," Christensen said on Thursday. He added that speaking was not natural for him and required effort both on and off the field.

Growing up in Utah with three siblings, Christensen felt more at ease communicating in athletic settings like youth sports or snowboarding. At BYU, he even took public speaking classes to prepare for media interactions. Now, his focus is ensuring teammates Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis understand their roles during games.

Corbett had shown him how to communicate effectively without overdoing it: "You've just got to be loud and you got to be clear," Christensen noted.

Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik praised Christensen's ability to adapt quickly: "Brady soaked it all up with the understanding of how all the pieces fit because he's literally played outside in every spot." Despite learning a new position and language on the field, Christensen has helped maintain effective team performance.

Quarterback Andy Dalton acknowledged that while playing center requires different skills than other positions, Christensen's versatility across various roles helps him succeed: "For Brady, the guy's played every position on the line."

Christensen's journey from left tackle at BYU through being drafted into the NFL shows his adaptability. During his junior year at BYU, then-assistant Eric Mateos suggested he might excel as a center after an injury sidelined their starting player. Though another solution was found at that time, Christensen eventually embraced the opportunity when it arose again professionally.