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Texas Longhorns Star Running Back Jonathon Brooks To Miss Remainder Of Season With Torn ACL

Texas Longhorns star running back Jonathon Brooks will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL

Matt Galatzan

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The Texas Longhorns will be without their top running back Jonathon Brooks for the remainder of the season as a result of the injury he suffered in the team's win vs. the TCU Horned Frogs On Saturday night. 

According to an announcement from the school, Brooks suffered a torn ACL.

The injury occurred in the second half of the Longhorns' win over TCU, with Brooks attempting to help the Horns close out the game.

“We’re heartbroken for Jonathon,” said Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. “He was having a fantastic season and leaves a void that needs to be filled. But we know he will continue to be an invaluable leader on our team, helping us prepare as we move forward in our mission this season. I know he’ll work extremely hard in his recovery, get back to full speed as soon as he can, and we will be there by his side supporting him through all of that.”

Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is brought down by TCU cornerback Josh Newton (3) during the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas
Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is brought down by TCU cornerback Josh Newton (3) during the game at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas :: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

After putting the Texas running game on his back for most of the night, Brooks went down in pain after being tackled at his ankles and having his foot twisted under the defender. 

He lay on the ground for a few moments before walking with a heavy limp back to the locker room. Texas trainers had to assist him as he tried to walk on it while the Longhorns were in the process of giving up a 20-point lead once again.

Before the injury, Brooks was adding a ton to his Doak Walker Award campaign. He finished with 21 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns along with three catches for 74 yards.

Brooks will finish the year with 166 carries for 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging a whopping 6.2 yards per carry. 

The Longhorns will likely now have to lean on true freshman CJ Baxter in the backfield, who started the first two games of the season. 

He finished Saturday's win with 18 carries for 61 yards, a week after he had 10 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown in the win over Kansas State.

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.

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