Texas WR Al’Vonte Woodard set to undergo surgery

The Texas Longhorns wide receiver room is chock-full of young, former high-school All-Americans, but one of them is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Last week, while participating in a player-led 7-on-7 practice, redshirt freshman receiver Al’Vonte Woodard suffered a broken foot and is expected to be out for the next several months, per a report from 247Sports Taylor Estes. The school later confirmed the news.

According to the report, Woodard’s foot injury will require surgery, and given the initial outlook, he isn’t expected to be cleared in time for the season-opening showdown with Louisiana Tech on Aug. 31.

On Tuesday, Woodard underwent surgery.

A former four-star Under Armour All-American, Woodard didn’t see the field as a true freshman in 2018. That was expected to change entering 2019, as Woodard pushed for playing time behind senior starter Devin Duvernay as the Longhorns Z receiver. Though it’s quite possible that Woodard ultimately returns at some point fairly early during the 2019 season, the injury is certainly a setback for a talent aiming to secure his share of reps in an increasingly-deep Texas wide receivers room.

In addition to Woodard, 2018 signees Brennan Eagles and Malcolm Epps each pushed for playing time on the outside throughout the spring, though the two are more natural fits as an X receiver. Fellow 2018 signee and Under Armour All-American Joshua Moore appears primed to solidify a role as Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s replacement in the slot, but his pure straight-line speed, which Woodard also boasts, makes him a better fit at Z, so Woodard’s injury could potentially open the door for Moore to secure some snaps outside beyond his duties in the slot.

Elsewhere, the Longhorns are set to incorporate 2019 signees Jake Smith, who earned honors as the National Gatorade Player of the Year, Under Armour All-American Marcus Washington, and Kennedy Lewis into the rotation.