Texas S Brandon Jones will play against Oklahoma ‘barring any setback’

A key starter will be back in the starting lineup for the Texas Longhorns on Saturday against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game, as head coach Tom Herman said on Thursday that junior safety Brandon Jones will play, “barring any setback.”

Against Kansas last Friday, Jones returned to the field for the first time in nearly a month after missing three games due to an ankle injury, but suffered a head injury while returning a punt. Jones left the game in the second quarter due to that injury and did not return.

If Jones does play in Arlington, he won’t see action as a punt returner — he was previously the return man for the “punt safe unit” until Herman said on Monday that the team was holding open tryouts to replace Jones.

The junior was extremely effective in his limited playing time against Kansas, racking up six solo tackles and seven tackles total in his return. Despite missing four and a half games this season, Jones still ranks tied for fourth on the team in total tackles with 59.

In the previous match up against the Sooners, Jones played a big role, as his second career interception set up a key Longhorns touchdown in the three-point victory. Jones also led the team with nine tackles in that game.