The Texas Longhorns have a fascinating game this Saturday on the road against an upstart Vanderbilt team, but it looks like they’ll be without one of their best players on defense. Standout safety Andrew Mukuba was listed as doubtful on the Longhorns’ latest injury report with a knee injury.
After transferring from Clemson earlier this offseason, Mukuba has emerged as one of the best safeties in the country. He has 25 tackles and two interceptions this year, including a highlight-reel leaping pick of Georgia’s Carson Beck last week.
Steve Sarkisian said earlier this week that Mukuba will return this season, but it doesn’t look like that will happen this Sunday.
“We’re going to have to monitor him. We do have the bye after this game, so we’re just going to monitor him closely this week,” Sarkisian said. “I’m not going to put him back out there if he’s not ready to go, knowing that I can have a couple more weeks after this to get him healthy.”
Derek Williams Jr. is already out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury against Oklahoma, so the Longhorns will have to turn to younger talent in the defensive backfield. Michael Taafe and Jelani McDonald will likely start at safety, while three-star freshman Jordon Johnson-Rubell will rotate in.