Texas Football: Jake Smith out for Longhorns spring game with injury
We are now just moments away from the kickoff of the Orange-White Game for the Texas football program. For the first time since November 2020, Texas is about to take to the field at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the annual (outside of last offseason) spring football game. On the afternoon of April 24, Texas fans will get to see what this new-look team is shaping out to be this offseason.
Newly hired head coach and the former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator/reigning Broyles Award winner Steve Sarkisian has a critical spring game on tap on April 24. But he will take part in this spring game without the services of a few of his key players on each side of the ball.
Potentially the most notable that the Longhorns will be without at the skill positions in their spring football game on April 24 is the former elite four-star recruit and junior wide receiver Jake Smith. The third-year Longhorns 6-foot and 200 pound Arizona native wideout is reportedly set to miss the spring game with a broken foot.
Jake Smith is out with a broken foot and will not be playing in today’s Spring Game.
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) April 24, 2021
So unfortunately, All Gas No Breaks turns into All Gas No Jakes for the afternoon.
Early in spring camp, Smith broke his foot in drills and missed a significant period of time. It could be summer workouts or fall camp before Smith gets fully back up and running for the Longhorns. However, that is still a big loss for this receiving corps as they look to come together in the Orange-White Game.
Impact of Jake Smith missing the Texas football spring game
Texas is going to have to see some new faces step up in the spotlight as Smith is absent for the spring game. A few names to watch could be the likes of redshirt freshman Troy Omeire, junior Marcus Washington, and redshirt sophomore Jordan Whittington, among others.
Smith is one of the most experienced and productive wide receivers returning for the Longhorns this year. But keeping him healthy throughout the offseason, and all through the fall namely will be crucial to this offense thriving under Sark’s direction.
What Smith brings back for this Texas receiving corps in 2021 is 568 receiving yards on 48 catches (11.8 yards per catch), good for nine touchdown catches. He did miss some time last season due to injury, mainly at the beginning of the 2020 campaign.
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Texas finished up last season with a record of 7-3 (5-3 Big 12) under the direction of former head coach Tom Herman. The annual spring football game for the Longhorns kicks off at 1 p.m. CT at DKR on April 24.