蜜柚直播

Several NFL players have adopted plant-based diets in recent years, but most of them are on the lighter side 鈥� think quarterbacks and wide receivers. Some of the most famous herbivores to play in the NFL include Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick.

The 蜜柚直播 Wildcats could potentially have a vegetarian starter on the offensive line this season. You read that correctly.

Texas Tech transfer offensive tackle Ty Buchanan 鈥渕ight be one of the only (Power 4) vegetarians in the country and I鈥檓 pretty proud of that, as well,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 grew up vegetarian, my whole family is vegetarian and it鈥檚 all I鈥檝e ever known,鈥� said Buchanan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a challenge for me at all and I take a lot of pride in being vegetarian. ... I鈥檓 proud that I鈥檓 a vegetarian and can compete at this level.鈥�

Buchanan鈥檚 vegetarian lifestyle stems from his 鈥渟oft spot for animals.鈥� Buchanan鈥檚 family owns eight dogs and the UA offensive lineman did community service for animal shelters in Calallen, Texas.

To maintain his 6-6, 310-pound frame, Buchanan 鈥渆ats a lot of grass,鈥� said 蜜柚直播 offensive line coach Josh Oglesby.

鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to see his diet,鈥� Oglesby said. 鈥淭here are so many things now that are for the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, you don鈥檛 really notice it.鈥�

Growing up in Texas, a hotspot for barbecue, while his friends consumed brisket, burnt ends, ribs and other meats, Buchanan was a 鈥渂ig veggie burger guy,鈥� he said. Other foods Buchanan eats on a daily basis are 鈥渧eggie chicken,鈥� tofu, beans, lentils, protein shakes, jackfruit and 鈥渕ushrooms that taste like beef.鈥�

Buchanan鈥檚 mother, Dana, instilled the importance of having a plant-based diet at an early age.

鈥淚t was easy,鈥� Buchanan said. 鈥淚 always had my mom around to cook me great food and meals. I could always rely on her.鈥�

After Buchanan transferred to 蜜柚直播, Oglesby noticed Buchanan eating what appeared to be chicken at Bear Down Kitchen inside of Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.

鈥淚 thought he was eating chicken tenders,鈥� Oglesby said. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楧ude, what are you doing?鈥� It was cauliflower and he puts buffalo sauce on them. I tried it and, actually, it wasn鈥檛 bad. There are so many options for that lifestyle. When you and I think about it, I think of back in the old days when they used to eat salads.

鈥淏eing around him and listening to the foods he eats, it has opened my eyes to all of the different culinary things there are for substitutes of meat 鈥� not saying I鈥檓 going to give it up.鈥�

Added Oglesby: 鈥淚鈥檓 not well-versed on the vegetarian lifestyle, but I know the elimination of meat has a lot less inflammation in your body. I鈥檓 assuming he feels better a lot of the time more than some of us carnivores. He moves and plays like a prototypical offensive lineman, which I think is cool for a guy that doesn鈥檛 eat meat.鈥�

Buchanan, who started his college career at USC, had a vegetarian teammate at Texas Tech, but 鈥渂esides that, I haven鈥檛 really met a vegetarian football player at this level,鈥� he said. 蜜柚直播 offensive tackle Michael Wooten, who transferred from Oregon last year, was briefly a vegetarian before reverting back to the carnivore diet after transferring to the UA.

Buchanan, the lone herbivore on 蜜柚直播鈥檚 roster, is one of 12 scholarship newcomers on 蜜柚直播鈥檚 offensive line this season. In three seasons at Texas Tech, Buchanan logged 681 offensive snaps and allowed two sacks in 487 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Buchanan鈥檚 athleticism and length make him 鈥渁 great swing player,鈥� Oglesby said. The Texas Tech transfer could become the successor to NFL-bound Jonah Savaiinaea at right tackle.

鈥淕etting know him and his acumen and the amount of snaps he鈥檚 played, it鈥檚 all intriguing,鈥� said 蜜柚直播鈥檚 offensive line coach. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 going to be a huge bonus for the room.鈥�

Buchanan signed with 蜜柚直播 because 鈥淚 built a good relationship with Coach Oglesby, and I just felt like this would be a good fit for my last year,鈥� he said.

Buchanan is expected to play tackle this season, but 鈥渋f last year taught us anything, we need to be as well-versed as we can across the offensive line at multiple positions.鈥� The Wildcats had seven different starting lineups on the offensive line and nearly a dozen linemen receive game action.

Buchanan and Michigan transfer Tristan Bounds, among others, will be in contention for one of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 starting tackle spots. The Wildcats are returning starting left tackle Rhino Tapa鈥檃toutai, who suffered a season-ending leg injury last season.

For now, it鈥檚 a long shot for rebuilding 蜜柚直播 to win the Big 12 championship in 2025, but if the Wildcats win the conference title, Buchanan vows to eat a steak 鈥� beef, not mushroom 鈥� with Bounds.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a little bit more on the line with that one,鈥� Oglesby joked.

Even though Buchanan is the only vegetarian on 蜜柚直播鈥檚 roster, settling into his one year 鈥渉as been great,鈥� he said. While other linemen eat chicken wings and carne asada tacos during player gatherings, Buchanan eats impossible burgers.

鈥淭hey all welcomed me immediately as soon as I got here,鈥� added Buchanan. 鈥淲e鈥檙e building relationships and as we get ready for spring ball, I鈥檓 learning to play alongside those guys.鈥�

To maintain his caloric and protein needs, Buchanan consults with 蜜柚直播鈥檚 nutrition staff on a weekly basis. Buchanan鈥檚 diet regimen at 蜜柚直播 consists of tofu, tempeh, beyond meats, beans, nuts, whole grains and plant-based protein supplements.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e doing a great job,鈥� Buchanan said of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 nutrition staff. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great staff and the strength and conditioning staff is taking care of me. They accepted me as soon as I joined the team. I鈥檓 putting on good weight and getting ready for the season.鈥�

Buchanan said, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a few good spots for vegetarian food鈥� in 蜜柚直播, including the vegan-inspired Tumerico, which was named last year. The scratch kitchen often changes its menu, but the popular vegan restaurant in 蜜柚直播 is known to serve items such as jackfruit carnitas, potato tacos and vegan tamales.

While 鈥渋t鈥檚 not normal to be a vegetarian at this level, I鈥檓 trying to let people know that it is normal and you can do it,鈥� Buchanan said.

鈥淚 would love for people to give it a shot and give it an open mind and don鈥檛 be so quick to judge,鈥� Buchanan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible to play (Power 4) football as a vegetarian.鈥�