Ahead of the biggest Big 12 game of the season thus far, Texas is still far from certain who will line up behind Colt McCoy in the Longhorns’ backfield against Oklahoma.
Their two leading rushers are injured and weren’t listed on the initial depth chart released earlier this week. Vondrell McGee has a shoulder injury, while Tre Newton was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
Neither of the two have been through any contact drills this week, although they have been doing “mental reps” as offensive coordinator Major Applewhite described it. Either way, it could be a game-time decision as to who starts at running back.
“The Texas-OU game makes everyone healthy, because everybody wants to play,” head coach Mack Brown said. “This is a game that gets you well fast.”
Newton’s father, former Dallas Cowboys great Nate Newton, said he was hopeful his son would be available for the annual Red River Shootout.
“Right now, I don’t know if he’ll play, but I’m hopeful he plays,” Nate Newton said. “But that is going to be up to [Texas coach] Mack Brown and the team’s training staff. I just don’t know.”
If neither McGee nor Newton are able to go, Fozzy Whittaker would likely get the starting nod, with Cody Johnson helping to share the load.
