3 key injured Texas players heading into Florida

Colton Vasek, EDGE

The new name that showed up on this week's injury report for the Longhorns was redshirt freshman edge rusher Colton Vasek. The specific nature of Vasek's injury hasn't been reported. But he is listed with a status of "questionable" on the first SEC injury report this week.

Vasek has emerged as a contributor in Texas's edge rusher rotation this fall. Despite playing limited snaps over a half dozen games for the Longhorns this season, Vasek has registered six combined tackles, three tackles for loss, four defensive stops, two sacks, and five quarterback pressures.

In Week 3 against the UTSA Roadrunners, Vasek registered his first career sack late in the second half when Texas was up big.

Texas's depth at the EDGE position has dramatically increased this season. Thanks to the emergences of underclassmen like Vasek and true freshman Colin Simmons, Texas's EDGE room has taken its play and performance to newer elevated heights in SEC play.

Also noteworthy for Texas's defensive line absences in the first half against Florida is senior defensive tackle Vernon Broughton. In the second half against Vanderbilt, Broughton was flagged for a targeting call, which causes him to miss the first half of the Florida game this upcoming weekend.

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