Texas LB Edwin Freeman out 6-8 weeks with shoulder injury

There's no remaining doubt about whether Texas Longhorns redshirt freshman linebacker Edwin Freeman actually injured himself against the California Golden Bears on Saturday night -- he told the Austin American-Statesman on Monday he's out for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury.

A scheduled X-ray will determine whether or not he needs surgery.

Though Freeman is the essentially a back up with the Longhorns starting two linebackers in most games, he is listed as the starter on the weak side when a 4-3 formation is necessary and he's the first player off the bench when senior starter Peter Jinkens needs relief on the strong side, making him a valuable contributor.

In parts of three games, Freeman recorded seven tackles (five solo) and two tackles for loss, as well as a forced fumble against Rice.

A former consensus four-star prospect out of Arlington Bowie in the 2014 class, Freeman quickly grew from a safety into a linebacker at Texas during his redshirt season. In the Orange-White game, he flashed his safety speed when he returned a fumble for a touchdown that was forced by freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson.

The Longhorns linebacker corps is already depleted by injuries and attrition -- senior linebacker Dalton Santos recently had another surgery on the ankle he injured during the spring and may sit out the entire season, while freshman Cecil Cherry departed the program during fall camp after only three practices.

As a result, Texas may have to remove the redshirt from freshman Cameron Townsend, who is currently listed as the back up to Jinkens at strongside linebacker.