AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian shared promising news Monday on the injury front during a joint press conference with Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham ahead of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Sarkisian said what looked like a potentially serious injury to right tackle Cam Williams' knee wasn't as bad as the team originally thought. Williams had an MRI done Sunday to check for damage and Sarkisian said it was more precautionary.
"We feel more comfortable about that," he said.
Of all the places Texas has plenty of depth on its roster, the offensive line hasn't been brought up as much as the receiving corps, defensive line or secondary. With injuries to Williams and center Jake Majors in the span of three plays against Clemson in the College Football Playoff first round, the Longhorns showcased their depth in the trenches. Hayden Conner shifted from left guard to play center, Trevor Goosby filled in for Williams at right tackle and Cole Hutson took over for Conner at left guard.
The Longhorns didn't miss a beat and rushed for nearly 300 yards in the 38-24 win. Goosby has been a super sub for the big boys in burnt orange, having to step in at left tackle when Kelvin Banks Jr. went down early in the Texas A&M game.
Sarkisian said he highlighted Goosby's play in a team meeting Monday.
"He's been kind of thrown to the fire pretty good, and I've got to give him a lot of credit," Sarkisian said. "He's held his own. He's shown not only the physical fortitude but the mental toughness when he's been going against some pretty elite players. So I've been proud of him."
It's reassuring that the starting offensive line, a finalist for the Joe Moore Award that recognizes the most outstanding line in the country, could be back to full strength by game time on New Year's Day. Majors was available to come back into the game Saturday, Sarkisian said afterward, after taking an illegal blindside block during a Clemson interception return. The coaching staff chose to hold him out for the rest of the game. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. looked great in his return from an ankle injury that made him miss the SEC championship game, and with Williams' injury not as serious as once thought, there's a good chance the unit becomes whole again by game time.
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Wide receiver Isaiah Bond missed the game with an ankle injury. Sarkisian said Bond "continues to make really good progress for us."
"Obviously we're quite a ways out, so my goal is coming out of Christmas here that progress continues in a positive direction and we can see where it goes from there," he continued.
Texas' beloved live mascot Bevo won't be at the Peach Bowl when the Longhorns take on the Sun Devils, a Peach Bowl representative said Monday. There are space issues on the sidelines at the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, the same reason why the big fella couldn't make the trip for the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia.
"We love all the great traditions of college football and no doubt, Bevo is one of the best, but the unfortunate reality is there simply isn't enough room on the sidelines at Mercedes-Benz Stadium," a statement from the Peach Bowl committee said. "With the constraints of the stadium and prioritizing the safety of Bevo, the players, all the network cameras and support staff, cheerleaders and photographers, we unfortunately won't be able to have Bevo on the field at the CFP quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl."
If the Longhorns advance to the national championship game Jan. 20, Bevo will most likely have to catch the game from home since it's in the same stadium.
Be sure to catch the Texas GameDay pregame show at 11 a.m., Jan. 1, on KBVO
