Texas will be without three starting offensive linemen and its quarterback when it plays BYU on Saturday night.
Longhorns coach Charlie Strong on Wednesday night suspended both starting offensive tackles, Kennedy Estelle and Desmond Harrison. Center Dominic Espinosa was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in the opening game, and quarterback David Ash will miss the game because he is suffering from a concussion.
Estelle and Harrison were suspended for a violation of team rules, and no time frame was given for their return. Harrison also had been suspended for the opener, then was reinstated Monday. Estelle and Espinosa were the only returning starters along the line.
Estelle's spot at right tackle likely will be manned by sophomore Camhron Hughes, while junior Marcus Hutchins likely will start at left tackle for the second week in a row. Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes will start at quarterback and redshirt freshman Jake Raulerson at center.
Texas' rushing attack was to be the offensive focal point this season, and while the Longhorns remain deep at tailback, the line could be an issue this week against BYU, which uses a 3-4 scheme and has a lot of big, physical linebackers.
BYU crushed Texas 40-21 last season. Texas managed just 72 rushing yards against the Cougars and allowed 550.
Two other potential Longhorns starters, wide receiver Daje Johnson and free safety Josh Turner, remain indefinitely suspended for rules violations as Strong and his staff work to change the culture surrounding the program.
Texas plays UCLA on Sept. 13 in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
