Complied by Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer
AUSTIN, Texas — Here are some game and roster notes and some quotes in advance of the No. 12 Texas Longhorns’ game against Oklahoma State on Saturday at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin:
• Texas coach Tom Herman confirmed Thursday that center Zach Shackelford (foot), Collin Johnson (hamstring) and linebacker Joseph Ossai (shoulder) are all probable for the Oklahoma State game. Safeties B.J. Foster (hamstring) and DeMarvion Overshown (back infection) will be out this week because of injuries.
• Sophomore offensive lineman Derek Kerstetter has become the Longhorns’[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] Swiss Army knife in the trenches, and could play any of the five positions on the line if needed. “Last year, I obviously only (started) in five games,” Kerstetter said. “This year, I just want to play. I don’t care what position. I’ve just had a burning desire to get back on the field and just play to the best of my capabilities.”
• Saturday’s game marks the 34th all-time meeting between Texas and Oklahoma State. The Longhorns hold a 24-9 advantage in the all-time series, but have been edged out by Mike Gundy’s Cowboys in the last four matchups and five in a row in Austin. Gundy’s teams are 7-2 in his nine seasons on the road against Texas.
• Each of the Longhorns’ first four games of the 2019 season have been or will be held in the state of Texas. The Horns have not played four straight games in the Lone Star State to open a season since 2010.
• Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck on running back Keaontay Ingram: “Just because he’s hard on himself doesn’t mean he doesn’t love playing the game or have a bounce in his step.”
• Texas’s 57-point victory over OSU (71-14) in 1996, in the first season of Big 12 Football, still stands as the largest margin of victory by either team in the series’ history.
• Oklahoma State is the only Big 12 program that the Longhorns did not beat at least once during Herman’s first two seasons on the 40 Acres.
• Texas is 18-5 all-time in Big 12 openers and 16-8 all-time in Big 12 home openers.
• Sophomore offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi was named to Pro Football Focus’ Eckrich Team of the Week after a solid showing against Louisiana Tech in the season opener. Cosmi did not allow a quarterback pressure on 47 pass-blocking snaps against LaTech, according to PFF. Cosmi has played in all 16 possible games of his Texas career, starting 15. He earned honorable mention for Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2018.
• Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando on the play of linebacker Juwan Mitchell, who had five tackles last week against Rice to share the team lead: “You’re going to see more and more of him going forward. He does have the talent to do things in space that need to be done.”
• Sophomore kicker Cameron Dicker booted a 57-yard field goal Sept. 14 against Rice, the longest made kick by a Longhorn since Jeff Ward’s 57-yarder Nov. 28, 1985 at Texas A&M. It also is tied for the longest field goal in the FBS this season. Illinois’ James McCourt and Penn State’s Jordan Stout both also made 57-yard tries Sept. 14.
• Texas junior linebacker Caleb Johnson has placed himself in the NCAA Transfer Portal, as reported first by Joe Cook of Inside Texas. Johnson was a member of Texas’ 2019 class. He has not played in a game this season.
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