3 key injured Texas players heading into Colorado State
Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian experienced a handful of injury issues during preseason camp in the past few weeks. Texas lost a starter at running back and another scholarship player at the position during fall practice for the entire 2024 season.
Injury updates for Texas football entering Week 1 vs. Colorado State
Outside of the running back position, Texas was able to stay pretty healthy at other spots on each side of the ball.
The second half of preseason camp saw the Longhorns go lighter on the full-contact team drills and scrimmages over the last couple of weeks, including the second of the two fall scrimmages in August.
Texas now has the depth on the two-deep on both sides of the ball to deal with the threat of injuries that comes their way during the season. This depth and talent across the roster on both sides of the ball is even more important for the Longhorns entering the inaugural season playing in the best conference in college football in the SEC.
Another factor here could be the longer potential season for the Longhorns with the postseason field expanding to 12 teams for the College Football Playoff.
Texas's injury report is pretty well documented entering Week 1 of the 2024 regular season this upcoming weekend at DKR against Colorado State. Here's a look at three key injury updates for the Longhorns entering the opener on Aug. 31.
Christian Clark, RB
True freshman running back Christian Clark suffered a season-ending torn Achilles injury that he suffered during fall practice a couple of weeks ago. Clark was the second on-scholarship running back who the Longhorns lost for the entire 2024 season during fall practice.
Texas made up for the lost depth after injuries at running back by trying out players from other positions in fall practice and reaching into the transfer portal right before the start of the season. Sarkisian and Tashard Choice gave senior tight end Juan Davis and redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Niblett looks at running back in practice this fall camp.
The Longhorns also picked up former Kansas Jayhawks and SMU Mustangs senior transfer running back Velton Gardner from the portal to give the backfield four healthy scholarship players entering the season.
I think there will be a role for Davis in certain live-game situations on offense in short-yardage and goal line situations as a wildcat back.
Gardner can also provide solid depth with a back who has some proven experience playing in the power conferences and who isn't afraid to run between the tackles in Sarkisian's offense in the ground game.