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3 key injured Texas players heading into Arkansas

Texas has an opportunity to show depth on the defensive side of the ball with the handful of injuries it has experienced with that unit for Week 12 vs. Arkansas.

By Andrew Miller

Morice Blackwell Jr., Texas football
Morice Blackwell Jr., Texas football / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Colton Vasek, Texas football
Colton Vasek, Texas football / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Colton Vasek, EDGE

After missing the Florida game last weekend due to an injury, sophomore edge rusher Colton Vasek is set to be out for the second straight week for the Longhorns' defensive front. Vasek has played eight games this season, registering six combined tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, five quarterback pressures, and four stops.

Vasek was originally listed with a status of "doubtful" on the first SEC injury report on Wednesday. But he was later downgraded to "out" on the second injury update for Thursday this week for the Arkansas game.

Junior edge rusher Justice Finkley has received more defensive snaps at the EDGE position in Vasek's absence in the past two games due to an injury. Finkley registered one combined tackle and a quarterback pressure in Texas's 32-point victory over Florida, over nine defensive snaps, last weekend.

Texas has continued to get good production from the EDGE group this fall in that position room. Four edge rushers, redshirt junior Trey Moore, true freshman Colin Simmons, junior Ethan Burke, and senior Barryn Sorrell have combined to give Texas its most formidable EDGE rotation and great depth this season under Pete Kwiatkowski.

Vasek has played 59 snaps over six games this season on defense, including double-digit defensive snaps in wins over UTSA, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma. He has also contributed to Texas's special teams unit, taking over 70 special teams snaps over eight games this season (per PFF).

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