Texas LB Steve Edmond out for season

The crack-back block executed by Texas Ted Red Raiders wide receiver Eric Ward resulted in a lacerated liver for Texas Longhorn linebacker Steve Edmond in the first quarter of the Thanksgiving contest.

On Friday, the school ruled Edmond out for the rest of the season as a result. The team's leading tackler with 71 stops on the season, the jumbo linebacker struggled at times to cover ground, but generally improved to help the linebackers become a marginally competent unit for stretches, aided by two interceptions from Edmond, including the game-sealing pick in the end zone against West Virginia in overtime.

There is currently no timetable for the return of the 6'3, 256-pound junior linebacker from Daingerfield, who also recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five passes broken up, and four quarterback hurries.

The Longhorns are now short on scholarship linebackers to finish the season with the status of fellow junior linebacker Kendall Thompson in question following a head injury also suffered against Texas Tech. With Jordan Hicks (torn Achilles) and Tevin Jackson (torn ACL) already out, and freshmen Naashon Hughes and Deoundrei Davis redshirting, there are only four healthy scholarship linebackers -- sophomore Dalton Santos, sophomore Peter Jinkens, junior Aaron Benson, and redshirt freshman Tim Cole.

Of those players, only Santos and Jinkens have proven they can contribute at the college level after Cole's disastrous start versus Iowa State and Benson having ridden the bench now for all three seasons since his redshirt -- let's just say that the Horns can't afford any more injuries there in the final two games or defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will quickly be forced to play dime personnel with only one linebacker on the field.