The Texas Longhorns will be without their top returning receiver Jaxon Shipley for an unspecified amount of time.
Head coach Charlie Strong announced the news on Wednesday, but did not seem to think the injury was too severe. "Shipley has a hamstring pull, don't know the timetable on that. I don't think it's very severe. We'll try to get him back as quickly as possible."
Shipley hurt his hamstring in spring of 2013, but there was plenty of time to recover before last season.
Shipley will be a senior in 2014 and an integral part of the passing game. Shipley had 56 receptions for 589 yards and 1 touchdown in 2013, which was his worst season statistically, albeit by a small margin. Shipley put up 59 catches for 737 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2012. In 2011, Shipley recorded 44 receptions for 607 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Shipley has also returned punts. In 2013, Shipley returned 10 punts for 135 yards. He did not return a punt in 2012 and recorded 8 punt returns for 42 yards in 2011.
If Shipley is out for an extended period of time, Texas may be in trouble. Strong already dismissed two receivers earlier this month in Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander. Sanders was expected to be a starter during the upcoming season. In addition, wide receiver Daje Johnson has been suspended with no timetable given for when he may return.
That leaves junior Marcus Johnson, senior John Harris, sophomore Jacorey Warrick, and freshman Armanti Foreman as the likely candidates to see more playing time if Shipley is out for a long stretch.