Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian walked onto the practice field with a rare sense of relief, noting that the roster emerged from the opening week of drills without any major long‑term injuries. The team is set to open its season on September 5, and the absence of lingering ailments has set a positive tone for the upcoming campaign.
A Clean Bill of Health
A brief flu outbreak that sidelined several players — including Rasheem Biles, Ty’Anthony Smith, Brad Spence and Justus Terry — has already run its course, with all affected athletes cleared to return for Monday’s session. Meanwhile, Laurence Seymore III incurred an undisclosed injury during a scrimmage, but described it as a minor, short‑term issue that will not affect his availability for the opener.
The reduction in bumps and bruises can be traced to new tackling techniques introduced by defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and defensive backs coach Blake Gideon. Their emphasis on proper form has paid dividends, limiting the kind of hard‑hit injuries that plagued the program in previous summers.
Learning from Past Seasons
The Longhorns are not starting from scratch; they are building on lessons learned after a season‑ending knee injury to Andre Cojoe in 2023 and a ligament tear for CJ Baxter in 2024. Those setbacks prompted a league‑wide focus on safer practice protocols, and the current squad appears to be reaping the benefits.
Reserve linebackers Rocky Cummings, Tyler Atkinson and Darius Snow have taken advantage of extended reps in the scrimmage, showing noticeable improvement in their roles. Their development adds depth to a unit that will need to rely on fresh legs throughout a demanding schedule.
Overall, the combination of a clean medical report, refined tackling instruction and the emergence of younger players paints an optimistic picture for Texas as they head into the season opener. Sarkisian’s confidence in the group’s health and adaptability suggests the Longhorns may be poised for a strong start.