By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas defense was better – like night and day better – when it allowed Kansas State just 304 yards of total offense in the Longhorns’ 27-24 win last Saturday.
After the game, several players were quick to[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] point out that the effort was what the Longhorns are capable of when they are healthy and have nearly all of their most important defensive players on the field, including safeties Caden Sterns and B.J. Foster.
“This is what happens when we’re fully healthy,” Texas nose tackle Keondre Coburn said after the win. “This is a great team, (an) unbelievable team. We never pointed at each other, we never gave up. We just kept doing the game plan that we were given, and we just executed better.”
The Longhorns got more good news on the defensive injury front Monday when Texas coach Tom Herman announced that safety Chris Brown, who broke his right arm Oct. 9 against Oklahoma, has been cleared to play this week when Texas travels to Iowa State.
“(Brown’s broken arm) healed faster than he anticipated and the doctor cleared him on Friday to play with a cast on,” Herman said. “To know that we’re going to have him here this week is a big boost to our defense and to special teams.
Herman also said that linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch, who separated his shoulder against OU, is progressing better and should be able to play against the Cyclones, and said that safety DeMarvion Overshown has been cleared, but “is still dealing with some pain issues, so we will see how that progresses.”
The good news on defense was countered with some bad for the offense. Herman said right guard Junior Angilau expected to miss at least one week with an MCL injury he suffered the injury in the first half the win over Kansas State.
Angilau, who has started every game so far this season for the Longhorns, is considered “week to week” according to Herman, with UT’s Nov. 23 game at Baylor currently the best-case scenario for his return.
Also, wide receiver Collin Johnson injured his hamstring during the final drive of the Kansas State game and will be evaluated for his availability for Iowa State throughout the week.
Herman said Johnson, who missed four games earlier this year after suffering a hamstring injury against Louisiana Tech, will undergo “aggressive treatment” to try and return as soon as possible. for this week’s road date at Iowa State.
Johnson is coming off his best statistical game of the season, catching seven passes for 110 yards and a score against Kansas State, his second-straight 100-yard receiving performance.
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