Texas Football: DJ Campbell returns to practice after suffering injury

Texas football received a key injury update early this week in practice involving sophomore interior offensive lineman DJ Campbell. Gerry Hamilton of Inside Texas/On Texas Football reported on the “Longhorn Livestream” on Sep. 5 that Campbell returned to practice for Texas early this week.

Campbell suffered a lower-body injury when a defender for the Rice Owls rolled up on his ankle in the middle of the game last weekend. That lower-body injury forced Campbell out.

Redshirt freshman interior offensive lineman Neto Umeozulu took the snaps at right guard for Campbell after he left the game on Sep. 2 against Rice with the lower-body injury.

Texas football IOL DJ Campbell returns to practice on Sep. 5

Campbell started the season opener for offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and the Longhorns against Rice last weekend. He won the starting job at right guard over fellow sophomore interior offensive lineman Cole Hutson (who started there last year) after a strong showing in fall camp.

The 6-foot-3 and 343-pound Campbell took 61 offensive snaps in the Rice game on Sep. 2. He allowed two quarterback pressures and one sack.

Starting job at right guard up in the air in practice ahead of the Alabama game

It sounds like Sark, Flood, and the Longhorns are looking to find their answer at right guard in practice this week. CJ Vogel of TFB Texas reported on Sep. 5 (donor content) that there “will be some new looks on the OL this week,” with Campbell suffering an injury against Rice last weekend.

During the “Longhorn Livestream” on Sep. 5, Hamilton also reported that Hutson returned to practice after working through an injury issue in the last couple of weeks. It seems likely that Hutson, Umeozulu, and Campbell compete for starting reps at right guard in practice this week.

Texas needs to find answers along the interior offensive line after that group struggled with physicality and communication in the opener last weekend against Rice. Alabama is a much bigger and more physical defensive front than Rice, making for a tall task for the Texas interior offensive line to hold up consistently in run blocking and pass pro on Sep. 9 in Tuscaloosa.