Jordan Elliott Injury a Blow to Defensive Front for Texas Football

It was a good night at DKR on Saturday. Texas football snapped a three-game losing streak, beating Iowa State 27-6. However, not everything went the Longhorns’ way in this one. True freshman defensive tackle Jordan Elliott suffered an MCL injury and could be lost for the season.

Elliott was a four-star recruit in the 2016 class. The team expected him to be a major player in the defensive line rotation this season. His size, strength, and athleticism have made him a dynamic and versatile asset at defensive tackle and defensive end in odd fronts. His raw ability has earned him playing time in five games this season. He didn’t play against Cal, due to disciplinary reasons.

The 6-foot-4, 318-pound freshman was really starting to tap into his ability and be a disruptive force in the defensive line rotation. He was consistently collapsing the pocket against Iowa State and finished the game with two tackles, including .5 tackles for loss. It appeared to be a breakout performance that would earn Elliott more playing time down the stretch.

However, reports are saying that the defensive lineman will require surgery on his MCL which would end his 2016 season. It’s unfortunate timing as Elliott has played in too many games to be eligible for a medical redshirt. More importantly, his loss is a blow to a Texas defensive front that looked like it was turning the corner against the Cyclones.

Elliott has a bright future at Texas. Unfortunately, his season has been cut short. We can only hope that he comes back stronger next season.