From Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com:
First, here's a recap of injuries we've reported on today and others that OB has reported throughout the week.
- TE Blake Whiteley will undergo season-ending surgeries for two separate issues. Reports that he tore his ACL today at practice are incorrect. Per a good source, it was an issue Whiteley was trying to work through that was re-aggravated earlier in the week in the knee that shut his season down.
- LB Edwin Freeman has missed a few practices this week with an injury that one source did not seem worried about at all. We'll keep an eye on it, but it doesn't seem at all serious.
- LB Dalton Santos suffered a re-aggravation of his ankle at some point this week and is on crutches - he'll have some work to do before he's ready again per sources.
- LB Breckyn Hager remains sidelined with what we originally reported was a minor issue. Charlie Strong confirmed our report at his Tuesday availability in stating it was a shoulder and not considered serious. Hager should be back in action soon.
- TE Andrew Beck has been in the pit with a knee issue for at least two days, but according to one person in the know, it's "not a big deal." It's safe to assume at this point that the staff plans on having Beck's services at least by the time of the season opener.
- DT Alex Norman remains in the pit with an unknown injury that appeared to be a foot or ankle at the Wednesday practice open to the media last week.
- S Deshon Elliott will be out for at least the preseason with a toe/foot injury as originally reported by OB over a week ago. Elliott was still in a walking boot as of Wednesdaymorning per a source.
- DB Jordan Strickland, who was apparently injured last week at the first full-pads practice, reportedly returned to practice on Thursday. Strickland is not thought of as a real contributor at this time, but he did have a great spring game and is reportedly an excellent practice player. The fact that a source thought it was noteworthy to mention his return makes me believe the staff likes having him at practice.
- Some good news? Well, we thought there was actually going to be more bad injury news today. Members of the OB staff were told by numerous sources that freshman CB Kris Boyd may have suffered some sort of hand injury - possibly a broken finger. After doing some digging Thursday, OB has learned that he had a small hand injury but it was only a dislocation/sprain per a source with knowledge of the situation. Boyd's not in a cast or brace and not slated to miss significant (if any) time.
- And a little more good news ... OB reported Monday that OG Elijah Rodriguez was in the pit with a presumed foot issue, but as of Wednesday Rodriguez was back at practice free of restrictions. (Dunlap)
Freshman OL Buck Major working right in with second-team at left tackle
With freshman OL such as Patrick Vahe and Connor Williams dominating most of the news, I asked a source about Buck Major on Thursday, who OB originally reported had starting practicing with the team earlier in the week. Major, per one very good source, was inserted almost immediately into the two-deep at second-team left tackle on Thursday during 11-on-11 periods (in a reported shorts-and-shoulder-pads practice).
This grouping caused a personnel shift of Tristan Nickelson (who had been manning the left tackle position for most of the week) moving back over to right tackle and kicking former starting LT Marcus Hutchins inside from backup right tackle to backup right guard. It should be noted, this was the first day with this grouping, but it says a lot about how the staff feels about Major to get him this involved this early as Major's been on campus for no longer than a week. You don't usually redshirt second-string offensive linemen. If the grouping sticks, Major could be a factor (at least for depth) in 2015. (Dunlap)
Quick-hits and nuggets from fall camp from speaking and texting with sources:
- WR John Burt had a big play on Thursday where he "burned" CB Duke Thomas in a ones-versus-ones team period. Burt continues to draw rave reviews.
- Maybe for some of the same reasons, I was told a bunch of DBs had to stay after practice on Thursday to do extra running and up-downs.
- It's not exactly news, but it seems like a foregone conclusion at this point to folks I speak with that the starting LBs in Texas 2015 4-3 nickel package will be Peter Jinkens and Malik Jefferson. If so, Jinkens is poised to be on the field for 80-90% of snaps this season if this remains the case, so how he reacts to his new and expanded role will be one of the key storylines in how the Texas defense operates.
- Per one source, TE/WR Deandre McNeal is "getting better everyday," which is important with the TE position currently in a bit of flux. McNeal, a freshman, represents by far the most upside of any TE candidate on the current Texas roster but the main concern was his ability to understand a relatively tough-to-learn position so quickly. His development with the loss of Whiteley has become critical. He'll be receiving lots of extra snaps in the next two weeks with Beck temporarily sidelined and Whiteley out of action. Fans should certainly hope McNeal's progression continues as he's a freak athlete and the sooner he's on the field for meaningful snaps, the better.
- Another day, another great report about DT Chris Nelson. Nelson has had a few nagging injuries to start fall camp, but those seem to be pretty much in the rearview from all I can tell. Sources talk about his low center of gravity and ability to disrupt like he's going to be a force. The depth on the Texas defensive line is one of the strongest points of the whole team. (Dunlap)
First, here's a recap of injuries we've reported on today and others that OB has reported throughout the week.
- TE Blake Whiteley will undergo season-ending surgeries for two separate issues. Reports that he tore his ACL today at practice are incorrect. Per a good source, it was an issue Whiteley was trying to work through that was re-aggravated earlier in the week in the knee that shut his season down.
- LB Edwin Freeman has missed a few practices this week with an injury that one source did not seem worried about at all. We'll keep an eye on it, but it doesn't seem at all serious.
- LB Dalton Santos suffered a re-aggravation of his ankle at some point this week and is on crutches - he'll have some work to do before he's ready again per sources.
- LB Breckyn Hager remains sidelined with what we originally reported was a minor issue. Charlie Strong confirmed our report at his Tuesday availability in stating it was a shoulder and not considered serious. Hager should be back in action soon.
- TE Andrew Beck has been in the pit with a knee issue for at least two days, but according to one person in the know, it's "not a big deal." It's safe to assume at this point that the staff plans on having Beck's services at least by the time of the season opener.
- DT Alex Norman remains in the pit with an unknown injury that appeared to be a foot or ankle at the Wednesday practice open to the media last week.
- S Deshon Elliott will be out for at least the preseason with a toe/foot injury as originally reported by OB over a week ago. Elliott was still in a walking boot as of Wednesdaymorning per a source.
- DB Jordan Strickland, who was apparently injured last week at the first full-pads practice, reportedly returned to practice on Thursday. Strickland is not thought of as a real contributor at this time, but he did have a great spring game and is reportedly an excellent practice player. The fact that a source thought it was noteworthy to mention his return makes me believe the staff likes having him at practice.
- Some good news? Well, we thought there was actually going to be more bad injury news today. Members of the OB staff were told by numerous sources that freshman CB Kris Boyd may have suffered some sort of hand injury - possibly a broken finger. After doing some digging Thursday, OB has learned that he had a small hand injury but it was only a dislocation/sprain per a source with knowledge of the situation. Boyd's not in a cast or brace and not slated to miss significant (if any) time.
- And a little more good news ... OB reported Monday that OG Elijah Rodriguez was in the pit with a presumed foot issue, but as of Wednesday Rodriguez was back at practice free of restrictions. (Dunlap)
Freshman OL Buck Major working right in with second-team at left tackle
With freshman OL such as Patrick Vahe and Connor Williams dominating most of the news, I asked a source about Buck Major on Thursday, who OB originally reported had starting practicing with the team earlier in the week. Major, per one very good source, was inserted almost immediately into the two-deep at second-team left tackle on Thursday during 11-on-11 periods (in a reported shorts-and-shoulder-pads practice).
This grouping caused a personnel shift of Tristan Nickelson (who had been manning the left tackle position for most of the week) moving back over to right tackle and kicking former starting LT Marcus Hutchins inside from backup right tackle to backup right guard. It should be noted, this was the first day with this grouping, but it says a lot about how the staff feels about Major to get him this involved this early as Major's been on campus for no longer than a week. You don't usually redshirt second-string offensive linemen. If the grouping sticks, Major could be a factor (at least for depth) in 2015. (Dunlap)
Quick-hits and nuggets from fall camp from speaking and texting with sources:
- WR John Burt had a big play on Thursday where he "burned" CB Duke Thomas in a ones-versus-ones team period. Burt continues to draw rave reviews.
- Maybe for some of the same reasons, I was told a bunch of DBs had to stay after practice on Thursday to do extra running and up-downs.
- It's not exactly news, but it seems like a foregone conclusion at this point to folks I speak with that the starting LBs in Texas 2015 4-3 nickel package will be Peter Jinkens and Malik Jefferson. If so, Jinkens is poised to be on the field for 80-90% of snaps this season if this remains the case, so how he reacts to his new and expanded role will be one of the key storylines in how the Texas defense operates.
- Per one source, TE/WR Deandre McNeal is "getting better everyday," which is important with the TE position currently in a bit of flux. McNeal, a freshman, represents by far the most upside of any TE candidate on the current Texas roster but the main concern was his ability to understand a relatively tough-to-learn position so quickly. His development with the loss of Whiteley has become critical. He'll be receiving lots of extra snaps in the next two weeks with Beck temporarily sidelined and Whiteley out of action. Fans should certainly hope McNeal's progression continues as he's a freak athlete and the sooner he's on the field for meaningful snaps, the better.
- Another day, another great report about DT Chris Nelson. Nelson has had a few nagging injuries to start fall camp, but those seem to be pretty much in the rearview from all I can tell. Sources talk about his low center of gravity and ability to disrupt like he's going to be a force. The depth on the Texas defensive line is one of the strongest points of the whole team. (Dunlap)
