Texas WR Jake Smith’s status for Texas Tech game remains unknown

AUSTIN, Texas — Close to two weeks after Texas Longhorns sophomore wide receiver Jake Smith suffered a hamstring injury prior to the season opener against the UTEP Miners, Smith’s status for Saturday’s game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock is still unknown.

During Texas head coach Tom Herman’s Monday media availability, Herman said that Smith is scheduled to start running again in practice on Tuesday or Wednesday, so the team should know more about his potential availability on Wednesday or Thursday.

Smith earned the starting job at the H position during preseason camp after recording 25 catches for 275 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman in 2019.

Regardless of whether Smith is available against Texas Tech, Texas is thin at the slot position with redshirt freshman Jordan Whittington out for several more weeks following surgery to fix a slight meniscus tear that he suffered in the first half against UTEP.

Look for the Longhorns to continue using heavier personnel packages featuring multiple tight ends until Smith and Whittington are both healthy.

In other injury news, redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Reese Moore has recovered from arthroscopic surgery on his knee and is expected to return to practice on Tuesday. Moore was not listed on the UTEP depth chart due to that surgery.