Posted February 26th, 2009 by Brian
Filed under: Feature, Football, Spring Football
Former second string quarterback John Chiles made the switch to wide receiver today.
Football season never really ends in the state of Texas, but the start of spring drills is one of the biggest days for every die hard fan. The team hits the field for their first practice tomorrow and several big pieces of news came out today. Injuries and a huge position switch have Longhorn fans buzzing.
The biggest and most surprising news is that second string quarterback [tag]John Chiles[/tag] went to the Texas coaches today and requested he be moved to wide receiver. This is a move many Internet coaches fans have been calling for for over a year, but not one expected to happen before he gave it at least one more shot during spring practices. Despite struggles, the Texas coaching staff felt Chiles was good enough to be the team’s clear number two quarterback but if he was going to have an NFL future it is clearly as a wide receiver. His position change leaves the Longhorns with only two scholarship players at QB and likely means incoming freshman [tag]Garrett Gilbert[/tag] will not be redshirting for the 2009 season.
It was also announced that 9 players would be missing spring practices due to injury. Sadly, safety [tag]ishie Oduegwu[/tag] has been forced to give up football after several serious injuries and surgeries. He made several starts as a sophomore and missed all of last season with a shoulder injury. Oduegwu, a former academic All-Big 12 selection, is on set to graduate on schedule with a Youth & Community Studies major.
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle [tag]Jarvis Humphrey[/tag] will also miss practices with what appears to be a serious kidney ailment. Team trainers said “that Humphrey’s condition would be watched.” Defensive tackle is one of the team’s greatest depth concerns, but with this news a young man’s health definitely takes primary concern.
The other players that will miss spring drills are P [tag]Trevor Gerland[/tag], TE [tag]Blaine Irby[/tag], DE [tag]Dominique Jones[/tag], DE [tag]Eddie Jones[/tag], WR [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag], DB [tag]Kenny Vaccaro[/tag], and Alex Zumberge.
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Bad news on the injury front this week for the [tag]Kansas[/tag] game. We knew starting center [tag]Chris Hall[/tag] would be out with a knee injury but cornerback [tag]Aaron Williams[/tag] and tight end [tag]Ian Harris[/tag] are also out. The true freshman Williams has been big for the secondary filling in and playing well while starting corner [tag]Chykie Brown[/tag] was out, fortunately Brown is not on this week’s injury report.
Listed as questionable are two key members of the defensive line in end [tag]Brian Orakpo[/tag] and tackle [tag]Lamarr Houston[/tag]. Both players could play and rumors are both should be on the field today in Lawrence. Safety [tag]Ben Wells[/tag] is also questionable.
With the offensive line injury, off field, and performance issues the last few weeks it is very good news that left tackle [tag]Adam Ulatoski[/tag] is probable.
The official injury report for [tag]Baylor[/tag] is out and is the worst one of the year. As expected, defensive end [tag]Brian Orakpo[/tag] due to his left knee injury suffered against [tag]Texas Tech[/tag]. Also listed as out for the game are corner [tag]Chykie Brown[/tag] and punter [tag]Trevor Gerland[/tag]. Senior wide receiver [tag]Quan Cosby[/tag] is probable despite his back problems, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get only limited time unless he’s needed.
Senior fullback [tag]Luke Tiemann[/tag] is done for the year after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the Texas win over [tag]Arkansas[/tag]. Despite scholarship offers from other Division 1A schools, the young man out of Pflugerville decided to walk on at Texas. Tiemann started games at fullback during both his sophomore and junior seasons while also spending time at defensive end and contributing on special teams. His efforts earned him a scholarship before the beginning of this season.
Read the official university release below:
Longhorn senior fullback Luke Tiemann sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his left knee in Texas’ 52-10 victory over Arkansas on Saturday, and will require season-ending surgery, UT Head Athletic Trainer for Football Kenny Boyd confirmed Sunday.
“It’s really disappointing that this injury is cutting my senior year short,” Tiemann said. “Being a part of this team has meant so much to me, and although I can’t help the team on the field, I’ll still be right here with my teammates cheering them on and helping any way I can while I’m rehabbing and finishing school.”
Tiemann is a fifth-year fullback who has also played defensive end and contributed on special teams during his 34-game career. He began his career as a walk-on and earned a scholarship in August 2008 after making the switch to fullback midway through 2006. He had played in all four games in 2008.
In 2007, Tiemann saw action in 11 games, including one start, at fullback and on special teams. He played in all 13 games at fullback and on special teams in 2006 and also saw limited action on defense at linebacker. The Pflugerville native is a 2007 first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection and a six-time member of UT’s Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.
“Luke is one of our great senior leaders,” said head coach Mack Brown. “He got a standing ovation when we presented him his scholarship in August, and he has, and will continue to have, a great impact on this team. He is as tough as they come, and has contributed so much from the full back position and on special teams. On top of that, he is an outstanding student. His presence on the field will be missed and someone will have to step up to fill his void.”
Get well soon Luke! Hook ’em!
It was immediately obvious after watching the first replay of Blaine Irby’s gruesome knee injury but it is now official that the sophomore tight end will miss the remainder of the 2008 season. According to a press release from the university Sunday evening Blaine suffered a dislocated right knee and will undergo season ending surgery. He’ll be able to seek a medical redshirt and should have a full three years of eligibility remaining when he (hopefully) returns to the field in 2009.
Read the full press release including quotes from Irby and [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] below:
Longhorn sophomore starting tight end Blaine Irby sustained a dislocated right knee in Texas’ 52-10 victory over [tag]Rice[/tag] on Saturday, will undergo surgery and is out for the rest of the season, UT Head Athletic Trainer for Football Kenny Boyd confirmed on Monday.
“It’s going to be a long journey, and I just have to take it one step at a time,” Irby said. “I know the tight end spot and the offense won’t lose a beat because Peter (Ullman) and Greg (Smith) are there to lead the way. I’m going to be there too, helping out Coach Chambers. I’ll be there as a coach and a teammate and ready to help anybody in any way that they need me. Coach Brown told me that I could use a medical redshirt since this happened so early in the season, which would give me three more years, but that’s down the road. Right now, I just need to focus on being patient, taking it one day at a time, getting healthy and coming back stronger than ever.”
The 6-3, 235-pound Irby started all three games and had 10 catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns on the year. He led the Horns with seven catches for 62 yards and a TD in their 52-10 season-opening victory over Florida Atlantic. Irby also posted nine knockdown blocks in that game. He had a 23-yard catch at UTEP and registered two catches for 10 yards before sustaining the knee injury against Rice. He played in 11 games and registered two catches for 29 yards as a true freshman in 2007.
“We have a great history of tight ends and Blaine was quickly developing into the type of player to follow in those footsteps,” said head coach Mack Brown. “He was getting better every week and making a big impact in our offense. Blaine was very productive for us at a key time since we lost Jermichael (Finley) early to the NFL. As much as we’ll miss him this season, thank goodness he’ll get a redshirt year and have three seasons left when he gets back.”
In addition to Finley leaving school early, Texas also lost sophomore [tag]Josh Marshall[/tag] during preseason drills. He sustained a left scapula injury and remains out indefinitely. Senior [tag]Peter Ullman[/tag] and sophomore [tag]Greg Smith[/tag] both have played this season and will compete for the starting tight end job.
Redshirt freshman Ahmard Howard will move up the depth chart and compete for action after playing primarily on special teams this season. Fellow redshirt freshman [tag]Ian Harris[/tag], who sustained a neck sprain in August, is expected to be cleared to return to practice soon. Offensive tackle [tag]Britt Mitchell[/tag] has been playing tight end in short-yardage and goal-line situations as well.
We wish Blaine good health and determination through his rehab and can’t wait to see him back catching passes again as soon as possible.
We’ve had several people emailing asking for video of the [tag]Blaine Irby[/tag] injury and also had several people send us the link, but out of respect for Blaine we’ve decided not to post the video. It is a gruesome and scary injury and right now we’d rather send some good vibes Blaine’s way than rewatch his injury.
If you’re desperate to watch it just head over to YouTube and just search for Blaine Irby and you’ll find it.
Get better soon Blaine. Hook ’em!
Update: Irby’s injury is in fact season ending. (9/21/2008 10:20 pm)
Update: The team has announced that the injury will keep Irby out for the entire 2009 season. (7/24/2009)
Just a few days after I hear that he’s one of the pleasant surprises from the open practices, redshirt sophomore tight end [tag]Josh Marshall[/tag] fractured his shoulder today. Josh came in as a wide receiver but was transitioning nicely to tight end and would have provided some solid pass catching ability to the position’s depth chart.
It is officially a left scapula injury and there is no timetable for his return to the field. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, scapular fractures usually don’t require surgery. Most injuries heal fully in six weeks but full functionality will not return for several months. I’m not a doctor but this likely means Marshall is done for the season.
His absence means Blaine Irby and Peter Ullman are pretty much the only players at the position expected to contribute this season. Orangebloods is reporting former tight end and current center Greg Smith will return to the position in at least a part time role.
Posted June 12th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Basketball, Quick Hits
Daniel Gibson has surgery on left ankle to remove bone spurs and loose cartilage. He should be ready for training camp.
Posted March 22nd, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Basketball, NCAA Tourney, Quick Hits
Availability of Gary Johnson still a game-time decision against Miami. I’ll be surprised if he plays, hopefully ready for Sweet 16 if the Horns make it.
Posted January 5th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Football, Quick Hits
Vince Young practices but is a game-time decision against San Diego. He’s going to have to carry the team, hope he’s healthy.
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