Texas DT Chris Nelson to miss West Virginia game with ankle sprain

On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns will have to slow down the running game of the West Virginia Mountaineers without the services of starting defensive tackle Chris Nelson, as the senior sprained his ankle in practice on Tuesday and will miss the game.

Head coach Tom Herman said on Thursday that junior Gerald Wilbon will start in place of Nelson, with freshman Keondre Coburn and senior Jamari Chisholm potentially seeing their first action of the season as the backups to Wilbon.

Texas will also be without senior linebacker Anthony Wheeler for the first series because Wheeler was late for a team weightlifting session. Junior Jeffrey McCulloch will start in his place.

Herman also said that freshman wide receiver Joshua Moore could miss the bowl game after shoulder surgery. Senior defensive end Breckyn Hager will be available after suffering an SC sprain against Oklahoma State. Freshman wide receiver D’Shawn Jamison will be available, too — he suffered a mid-foot sprain last Saturday.

With Moore out and Jamison recovering from his injury, Herman said that senior wide receiver John Burt will be active this week.

In more positive news, junior B-backer Malcolm Roach will be available on a limited basis as he makes his return from the fractured foot that he suffered against USC.