Texas players react to Jay Norvell's promotion to Longhorns play caller

When several Texas Longhorns players met with the media on Tuesday evening following head coach Charlie Strong's promotion of wide receivers coach Jay Norvell to play-calling duties and the demotion of assistant head coach for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson from that role, the reactions ranged from shocked to unsurprised.

Senior running back Johnathan Gray

The team's best player received only eight carries on Saturday, so Gray probably wasn't exactly happy with Watson over the last several days. As a result, it makes sense that Gray didn't express any shock at the big news:

Johnathan Gray on Watson demotion: "I don't think it was a big surprise."

— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) September 9, 2015

Senior cornerback Duke Thomas

Since the defense is much more removed from what happens in the offensive position rooms, the changes caught Thomas off guard:

Duke Thomas on the play-caller change: "I didn't see it coming. I don't know much about it still. I'm pretty shocked."

— Horns247 (@Horns247) September 9, 2015

Since Thomas goes against the Longhorns wide receivers every day in practice, he was able to provide some perspective on Norvell's impact there:

Thomas: "Coach Norvell is passionate ... he's really pushing those guys (WR's) and I've seen an improvement from all of them."

— Ezra Siegel (@SiegelEzra) September 9, 2015

Senior wide receiver Daje Johnson

On the other end of the touches spectrum for Texas, Johnson caught six of the seven passes completed to Longhorns wide receivers. He reacted to the promotion of his position coach:

Daje Johnson on Norvell: "Real vocal. Big on effort. He loves to put his voice in and let each position know what they need to get better."

— Ryan Autullo (@AutulloAAS) September 9, 2015

Texas WR Daje Johnson said Jay Norvell has brought several new ideas to the program. "And basically the mindset of playing like a champion."

— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) September 9, 2015