Tag: 2020 opener

Tom Herman provides injury update before season opener against UTEP

Ahead of the matchup against UTEP, head coach Tom Herman met with the media and provided an injury update for the Texas Longhorns.

For the first time in 288 days, Texas will be playing a home game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. UTEP will be coming to town on Sept. 12, with the Miners already having a game under their belt.

For the Longhorns, practice has been underway since Aug. 7 and some injuries will carry over into the season opener.

Starting with the good news, linebacker Ayodele Adeoye was cleared to return to practice on Sunday. The junior broke his foot in the offseason and was recovering from surgery. After returning to practice, he suffered a minor shoulder injury that now appears good to go.

Adeoye is going to be an important part of the linebacking core, providing more depth for a thin group. Juwan Mitchell is going to start at middle linebacker for now but Adeoye could challenge the former junior college transfer.

Moving towards players who currently have injuries, the Longhorns’ offense is going to be without two role players on Saturday.

Freshman wide receiver Kelvontay Dixon and offensive lineman Isaiah Hookfin are listed as doubtful. Dixon, a 6-foot-0, 180-pound speedster, was expected to provide big play ability from the slot. He will now have to wait to make his Texas debut until conference play begins.

Isaiah Hookfin injured his shoulder recently but was expected to return in time for the start of the season. It appears that he needs just a bit more time. It is unclear at this point on if that will be a lingering issue. Fellow lineman Reese Moore will need a knee scope per the report, much like he did last preseason.

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