Chris Naggar will punt and hold for Texas with Ryan Bujcevski’s injury

The sophomore season for Texas Longhorns punter Ryan Bujcevski is likely over after the Australian native suffered a broken clavicle against the TCU Horned Frogs last Saturday on a fake punt.

Losing the team’s starting punter isn’t the only ramification for the Horns, though — Bujcevski was also the starting holder on field goals and extra-point attempts. His backup at that position, junior tight end Cade Brewer, suffered an ankle injury against TCU that also required surgery this week, so he’s out at least until a potential bowl game.

As a result, fourth-year junior Chris Naggar will take over as the starting punter and holder. Naggar walked on at Texas in 2016 due to a lack of depth at the placekicker position, but was also a 6A all-state selection as a punter his senior season after averaging 35.6 yards per punt on 21 attempts with a long of 52 yards.

The early return on Naggar after four years to work on his leg strength and technique was positive, however — his only attempt against the Horned Frogs went for 54 yards. Whether Naggar can maintain that length on his punts while also angling them towards the proper sideline with proper hang time, as well as pin punts inside the 20-yard line when necessary, is still yet to be determined, but he did unquestionably show his upside in Fort Worth.

The starting placekicker, sophomore Cameron Dicker, was also a punter in high school at Lake Travis and is available in case Naggar struggles. Dicker averaged 39.5 yards per punt as a senior with a long of 61 yards and seven punts downed inside the 20-yard line.