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In what feels like a consequential game for the Steve Sarkisian era, the Texas Longhorns are hosting the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium trying to improve on a 2-2 record following last week’s massively disappointing loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock.
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Sarkisian confirmed to Longhorn Network that redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers will be available, but won’t start. Ewers was a participant in pre-game warmups, showing improved velocity on his passes from two weeks ago, buoying hopes that he’ll start next week against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.
Sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy (lower leg injury) and senior defensive lineman Moro Ojomo are both expected to start, according to Sarkisian. Worthy missed the second half of the Texas Tech game after battling through the injury he suffered on the second play from scrimmage, while Ojomo did not make the trip following an ankle sprain in practice. Ojomo did return to practice on Monday.
In warmups, Worthy looks like he’s moving at full speed while Ewers is still not a full velocity in this setting. Ewers also stopped throwing before the other quarterbacks.
West Virginia won the toss and chose to receive, hoping to become the third straight opponent to mount a long drive against Texas to open the game. A false start penalty before the first play put the Mountaineers behind the chains, but quarterback JT Daniels was able to find wide receiver Sam James wide open over the middle on second down as the Longhorns brought a blitz that failed to pressure the West Virginia passer.
After the play went for a 27-yard gain, Texas was able to force incomplete passes sandwiched around a two-yard completion to get off the field defensively.
