Huge news dropped late Friday for the No. 1 Texas Longhorns: senior running back Hollywood Smothers got his injury status officially upgraded to probable for Saturday’s massive clash against the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers. This is a crucial development for the Longhorns, especially after Smothers was initially expected to be a game-time decision with a lower-leg injury, as reported by On3 early on Friday. For days, the 5’11, 196-pound star was officially listed as questionable on the SEC-mandated injury reports. Now, he’s looking good to go.
Hollywood’s Journey to Lead Back Status
Smothers winning that starting role in preseason camp was huge, taking over as the lead back from fifth-year Raleek Brown and freshman Derek Cooper. The dude’s got a story too, a Charlotte product who started his college career at Oklahoma before transferring to NC State. He quickly proved why he deserved the spot. Through just three games, Smothers has been the engine of their run game, leading the Horns with 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries. He’s been the guy making things happen, which is why his health is so critical.
Texas’ Run Game Is Still Searching For Explosiveness
Here’s the kicker though: even with Smothers looking good for Saturday, Texas is still desperately trying to find some explosiveness on the ground, and in their offense overall. Remember that ridiculous 45-yard run Smothers ripped off on the first play from scrimmage this season? Since then, it’s been a desert out there. The Longhorns have not produced a single run longer than 21 yards. Think about that for a second! In their last two games, the longest run Texas managed was a measly 20-yard scramble from quarterback Arch Manning against UTSA. It’s brutal. Across the country, 74 teams have more than one run of 30-plus yards, and 65 teams have at least one run of 50-plus yards. The #1 team in the nation is nowhere near that.
So, Smothers being probable is a massive relief, but the question still looms: can the Longhorns’ run game, with him back in the mix, finally break through that 21-yard barrier? They’re gonna need it against a tough No. 14 Tennessee squad at Neyland Stadium. Let’s hope Hollywood can ignite some much-needed fireworks for that offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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