Things appeared to have settled down in Austin, Texas for a while as the aftermath of numerous suspensions and dismissals by Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong started to fade. Yet two of the team’s top offensive linemen, Kennedy Estelle and Desmond Harrison, once again found themselves in trouble.
The two offensive tackles have been dismissed from the team, according to HornsDigest.com‘s Chip Brown.A source close to the situation has told @HornsDigest starting Texas OTs Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle have been dismissed from team.
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrownHD) September 4, 2014
Source tells @HornsDigest both #Texas OTs Harrison and Estelle committed another team rule violation and were already at zero tolerance.
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrownHD) September 4, 2014
Estelle and Harrison were projected as the team’s starting bookends at offensive tackle prior to the start of the season. Estelle opened the season against the North Texas Mean Green as the Longhorns’ starting left tackle, while Harrison was serving an one-game suspension.
The alleged loss of both Estelle and Harrison could be a devastating blow to the Longhorns’ offense. The team’s starting quarterback, David Ash, has already been ruled out of the upcoming contest against the BYU Cougars due to concussion suffered during the first quarter against the Mean Green. Center Dominic Espinosa also suffered a broken ankle in the contest. These are four key components to the Longhorns’ offense now missing.
Junior Marcus Hutchins started at right tackle in Harrison’s place to open the season. He’ll be expected to continue in the role, while sophomore Camrhon Hughes might get his first start at Texas covering Tyrone Swoopes’ blindside. And the team’s depth along the offensive line is extremely shaky with three new starters.
Assuming Marcus Hutchins and Camrhon Hughes start Saturday, Texas’ offensive line will have five career starts COMBINED.
— Dan Weiner (@DanWeiner) September 4, 2014
The Longhorns won’t have the chance to ease into a new starting lineup. After BYU, the Longhorns face the 11th-ranked UCLA Bruins. The Longhorns will then have a week off to lick their wounds before they enter Big 12 Conference play against the Kansas Jayhawks Sept. 27.
A strong message has certainly been made this year by the Longhorns’ new head coach, but it may be at the detriment of the team’s success in 2014.
UPDATE (10:40 p.m.): Early reports jumped the gun a little bit when it came to the dismissals of offensive linemen Kennedy Estelle and Desmond Harrison from the Texas Longhorns. The school released a statement Wednesday night which clarified the situation. Both Estelle and Harrison are suspended for the Longhorns’ upcoming game against the BYU Cougars.
Texas OT Desmond Harrison and OT Kennedy Estelle have been suspended for BYU game for violation of team rules.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 4, 2014