Kennedy Estelle, Daje Johnson will miss Alamo Bowl

The Longhorns may be bringing Bowie knives to a cannon fight at the Alamo Bowl.

It's now being widely reported that troubled speedster Daje Johnson and starting RT Kennedy Estelle will miss Mack's last stand in San Antonio.

What does it mean for Texas?

Now fully healed, Daje Johnson provided a potential for one play scoring ability on turf for a Texas offense that's proven ponderous as defenses have learned the Case Rules and our running backs have proven more plow horse than Arabian with the loss of Johnathan Gray.  Sadly, injuries, suspensions, Daje's attitude, the limitations of a McCoy-led offense and a lack of creativity in Major Applewhite's game planning has meant that Daje has spent most of the year providing a threat more theoretical than actual.  It's hard to say how he'll be missed as he was effectively irrelevant over the back half of the schedule.

Kennedy Estelle is a different story.  The big sophomore took over Right Tackle for an injured Josh Cochran during the Ole Miss game and improved steadily throughout the year, even suggesting a future NFL level talent if he's willing to tap it.  The loss means that Searels will have to figure out his best 5 - and that likely means weighing the best options at RT and LG for the unit as a whole.  All Big 12 guard Trey Hopkins may have to play right tackle, replaced by either Kent Perkins, Sedrick Flowers, or Curtis Riser inside.  Conversely, Searels could roll with the depth chart  as stated and start a true freshman Perkins at RT.  A horrible position to place any freshman, no matter their talent level.

Needless to say, whatever move we make will impact unit cohesion against a Duck defense that won't be shy to blitz while looking to jump erratic quick throws outside.

There's also an unconfirmed rumor that Jalen Overstreet will miss the game, which would reduce scholarship running backs to Bergeron and Brown only.

If the rumors are correct and academics are indeed to blame, it's hard not to characterize this as a fitting final reminder of Brown's failure to impose standards on the key support mechanisms of the program in so many areas.