For the first time in the two months since the Cotton Bowl post-game press conference, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Monday, and provided some injury updates before spring practice, which begins on March 25.
In addition to the two running backs who suffered season-ending injuries in preseason camp, several other players who were injured during the season will also be out or limited in spring practice.
Rising redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter won’t be a full participant during spring practice after his ACL injury in preseason camp, rising junior wide receiver DeAndre Moore won’t be a full participant after suffering a toe injury late in the season, rising redshirt sophomore safety Derek Williams won’t be a full participant after his season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma, and rising redshirt sophomore defensive end Colton Vasek won’t be a full participant after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
“I think that’s it,” Sarkisian said. “There may be one more now. We’ll have some other guys that will be limited, especially early on in spring, but I think we’ll grow into full participation, like I’m really encouraged by Christian Clark and where he’s at in his rehab, of how far along is, I’m actually pleasantly surprised.
Clark, a rising redshirt freshman running back, suffered a torn Achilles in preseason camp, but recently posted a picture front squatting 275 pounds. Which is certainly pleasantly surprising.
“We have some other guys — you come out of a season, you play 16 games, you’re gonna have your beyond bumps and bruises. Guys are gonna have to have some cleanup-type things surgery-wise. They’ll be a little bit limited early. They may do walk throughs. They may do individual, they may do seven on seven. They might not be quite ready for team periods, but hopefully by week three, week four, we’ll get them there,” Sarkisian said.
