This season’s been a wild ride for the Texas Longhorns. Now, they’re dealing with another curveball: two key players have left the team.
After a dominant 23-6 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, sophomore running back Jerrick Gibson and senior kicker Will Stone both departed the program. The news surprised Texas fans and coaches, who are now scrambling to rethink their plans before facing the Kentucky Wildcats.
Key Departures: Jerrick Gibson and Will Stone
The buzz from beating Oklahoma didn’t last long. Reports quickly surfaced that Jerrick Gibson, a sophomore back with real potential, was out.
Not long after, word got around that Will Stone, the senior kicker, was also leaving. Now the Longhorns find themselves thinner at two pretty important spots.
Jerrick Gibson’s Exit
Losing Gibson stings. He’d flashed some real promise and was supposed to be a big part of the offense.
With him gone, the coaches will have to shuffle things around, and someone else will need to step up. Who knows, maybe this is a chance for a new face to break out?
Will Stone’s Journey
Will Stone’s time with Texas has been anything but smooth. He came in with hype as the No. 6 kicker in his class from Regents School of Austin.
Stone only got on the field once last season, in the semifinal loss to Ohio State. He was supposed to take over after Cameron Dicker left, but things got complicated.
Bert Auburn ended up winning the job and held it for two years. After Auburn transferred to Miami, it looked like Stone’s moment had finally arrived.
But then Mason Shipley, a transfer from Texas State, showed up and outperformed expectations. Stone never got his shot to start at Texas.
He’s planning to redshirt this season and will have one year of eligibility left when he hits the NCAA transfer portal. That’s tough, but maybe a fresh start will do him good.
Mason Shipley Takes Over
With Stone out, Mason Shipley steps in as the full-time kickoff specialist. Shipley’s season has been strong so far—he went 5-for-5 on field goals and hit all 19 PATs before the Oklahoma game.
He missed two long ones against the Sooners, but overall, his accuracy is hard to argue with. Over three seasons at Texas State, he made 31 of 35 field goal attempts. That’s impressive, honestly.
Depth Chart Adjustments
Shipley’s now locked in as the starter. Redshirt freshman Spencer Barnett moves up the depth chart behind him.
The coaches need to make sure Barnett’s ready, just in case. You never know what’ll happen as the season heats up.
Upcoming Challenge: The Kentucky Wildcats
The Longhorns head to Kroger Field in Lexington this Saturday, Oct. 18, for a showdown with the Kentucky Wildcats. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has called this game an SEC Championship, really stressing how much it matters to keep the Oklahoma momentum rolling.
Game Plan and Expectations
Texas opens as a 12.5-point favorite, but nobody’s acting like it’s a sure thing. The team’s focused and wants to keep the energy from the Red River win alive.
It should be a high-energy matchup. Texas is gunning to lock in their spot and keep the season moving in the right direction.
Key Players to Watch
With the roster shakeup, a few guys have to step up. Keep an eye on:
- Mason Shipley: Now the main guy at kicker, Shipley’s performance is huge.
- Spencer Barnett: The redshirt freshman could see action if anything happens to Shipley.
- Running Backs: Someone’s got to fill Gibson’s shoes—who will it be?
Conclusion
The Texas Longhorns are working through a season packed with both big wins and tough moments. Jerrick Gibson and Will Stone have left, which definitely shakes things up a bit.
Still, the team’s got their eyes on their goals. They’re gearing up to play the Kentucky Wildcats and want to keep their momentum alive.
If you want to dig deeper into what’s been happening with Texas football lately, check out the full article on Sports Illustrated.
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