Steve Sarkisian revealed Longhorns’ offensive line injuries vs. Tigers in College Football Playoffs
In an ideal world, Texas would have drawn a first-round bye instead of playing a first-round game at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Coaches would prefer not to play an extra game. As great as Saturday was in front of 100,000 fans, the Longhorns had two offensive linemen get injured on back-to-back plays, putting the unit’s status in […]
In an ideal world, Texas would have drawn a first-round bye instead of playing a first-round game at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Coaches would prefer not to play an extra game.
As great as Saturday was in front of 100,000 fans, the Longhorns had two offensive linemen get injured on back-to-back plays, putting the unit’s status in jeopardy for the Peach Bowl.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sounded cautiously optimistic afterward about tackle Cam Williams and center Jake Majors. But it’ll be a few days before he can offer more specifics.
WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE: Follow A to Z Sports’ Texas Longhorns channel on YouTube.
All the trouble began with 3:19 left in the second quarter.
Sarkisian called for a slow-developing screen where quarterback Quinn Ewers would throw back to his right. Clemson was all over it. While a short pass was completed to Quintrevion Wisner, the Tigers rolled up Wisner and tackle Cam Williams in the tackling process.
Wisner got to the sideline on his own, but Williams needed real help getting off the field.
“Tre Wisner kind of banged his knee. He was available to come back in,” Sarkisian said. “We made a decision to go with (Jaydon) Blue and (Jerrick) Gibson.”
Williams did come back in for one play but went right back out. “Tried to go,” Sarkisian said. “We'll get an MRI here this evening and see where he's at.”
On the next play from scrimmage, Quinn Ewers’ pass for DeAndre Moore Jr. wasn’t caught and the ball went to a Clemson defender for an interception. On the return, Clemson’s Tre Williams was flagged for a blindside hit on Texas center Jake Majors.
“He also was available to come back in,” Sarkisian said. “We decided to make that decision to hold him.”
The Horns moved Hayden Conner over to center from guard, backup Cole Hutson went in at guard and Trevor Goosby played right tackle.
“I give a lot of credit to (offensive line coach) Kyle Flood on that because he's the master of cross training these guys and getting them to understand the why we cross train,” Sarkisian said. “We needed it tonight, and we've needed it here the last month or so of the season. But today more so than ever of guys being able to play multiple positions.”
