AUSTIN -- On the Monday before last year's season opener against Maryland, as he was addressing the media, Texas head coach Tom Herman was asked about naming then-senior nose tackle Poona Ford a team captain.

There was a noticeable sharpness in the words with which Herman spoke.

"He's the hardest-practicing player on our team. It's not even close," Herman said. "And we've got some hard-practicing dudes."

Herman repeated that sentiment multiple times over the course of last season. Despite standing only 5-foot-11 and 310 pounds, Ford's impact for the Longhorns up front was unmistakable. Ford was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and he was a key reason why the Longhorns ranked second in the Big 12 in rush defense.

This season, though, Texas will be without Ford, who's currently fighting to make the Seattle Seahawks' roster after going undrafted. The Longhorns, meanwhile, are still trying to figure out how to replace the void left by Ford in the middle of the defensive line.

"I don't know that you do -- by committee I guess is the best way to put it," Herman said last month at Big 12 media days. "I've been around three truly great nose tackles in my life -- Casey Hampton being one, Ed Oliver being two and Poona Ford being three. He is that elite. He is that disruptive or was that disruptive, I should say. I wish we had him and could refer to him in the present tense."

If Ford's production up front is going to be replicated, it will have to start with Chris Nelson, which is perhaps one of the more underrated storylines with this Texas team heading into the season. The 6-1, 315-pound senior from Lakeland, Fla. -- who missed the Texas Bowl with an elbow injury -- is likely to start in place of Ford this season, moving inside after playing defensive end last year.

"That's my role guy, man. Poona was a great guy," Nelson said following Thursday's practice at Frank Denius Fields. "I wouldn't say I'm getting overlooked, but at the end of the day the elbow had a setback, so a lot of people forgot. But at the end of the day, all I can do is go out there and show myself -- show and improve."

Nelson injured his elbow in practice right before the Texas Bowl. Since then, he's spent time rehabbing and getting stronger with the help of strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight.

"It was a freak accident," Nelson said. "Right before the bowl game, we were doing inside drill. Jason Hall came downhill and we were both going for a tackle and his helmet hit my elbow and popped it out."

Nelson's worn a hefty brace that covers his entire arm as a precaution during preseason camp so far. He said it hasn't affected his play, but he doesn't expect to wear it during games.

"I'm taking on double-teams, triple-teams real good," Nelson said. "It's not an issue."

One of the guys Nelson consistently lines up across in practice and faces in those double- and triple-teams is senior left guard Patrick Vahe.

Vahe also spoke with the media after Thursday's practice, discussing at length what it's like to compete in the circle drill -- a popular one-on-one drill where the goal is drive your opponent on his back.

But, to no surprise, there's one person Vahe is still eager to face in that drill -- and it's the man who will be responsible for clogging the middle on the defensive line for the Longhorns this season.

"I haven't matched up against him yet, but I want to go against Chris Nelson," Vahe said. "Only because we're two experienced guys, and we have a lot of pride whenever we go in there."