The injury bug has bitten Jonah Williams yet again.
The two-sport athlete injured his shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield during Texas baseball’s victory over USC Upstate on Friday night. According to coach Jim Schlossnagle, it’s the same shoulder that had previously caused injury problems for Williams.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Jayden Duplantier (0) bats in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) pitches in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) celebrates a home run in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) pitches in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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USC Upstate Spartans infielder Alex Ritzer (5) welcomes infielder Gage Griggs (15) back to the dugout after a home run in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Josh Livingston (15) slides to second base in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) throws to first base in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) bats in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Jonah Williams (9) bats in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle takes notes in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run in the fifth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) pitches in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) throws from the outfield in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) sprays his gloves in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) pitches in the sixth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
USC Upstate Spartans pitcher Chris Torres (23) throws a pitch in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
USC Upstate Spartans pitcher Max Kaplan (13) welcomes infielder Gage Griggs (15) back to the dugout after a home run in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) gestures to the dugout in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Jonah Williams (9) returns to the dugout after striking out in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) bats in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) warms up to bat in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) bats in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) bats in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) walks to first base in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) bats in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) runs home after hitting a home run in the fifth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) is welcomed back to the dugout after a home run in the fifth inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) pitches in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) pitches in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Williams did not feature in wins for the Longhorns on Saturday and Sunday. The football team, which is counting on Williams to inhabit a more prominent role this season at safety, begins spring practice on Monday.
Texas Longhorns outfielder Jonah Williams (9) returns to the dugout after striking out in the second inning as the Texas Longhorns play the USC Upstate Spartans on Friday, March 6, 2026 at UFCU-Disch Falk Field in the first game of a three-game series.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
“I don’t think it’s anything super serious,” Schlossnagle said Sunday after the Longhorns secured a series sweep over the Spartans. “He’s just sore. We’ll find out when they get it looked at tomorrow. But he just banged up his shoulder a little bit. I think he’s OK, though.”
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The news marks a continuation of a troubling injury trend for Williams, who has dealt with hamstring and shoulder problems since arriving on the 40 Acres last January.
If Williams does not return quickly, it will test the outfield depth for the Longhorns, who also lost freshman Presley Courville to injury this week.
MORE: Texas baseball run-rules USC Upstate again on Josh Livingston homer
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This weekend, Texas moved Ahston Larson, who has often served as Texas’ designated hitter, into the outfield, leaving the DH slot open for Josh Livingston.
Livingston was an opening-day starter in that role, but had seen his opportunities diminish after finding himself mired in an early-season slump. He entered Sunday’s game against USC Upstate with two hits in 16 at-bats this season.
Then he thumped his way out of the slump with two big swings.
Livingston launched a low breaking ball out to right field for a grand slam in the sixth inning. The left-handed slugger stepped to the plate two innings late and crushed a fastball 402 feet for a two-run shot that activated the run rule and ended the game in Texas’ favor, 13-3.
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A Wichita State transfer, Livingston collected 42 extra-base hits in 84 games with the Shockers. But he’d spent the early part of his Texas career topping weak ground balls to the right side of the infield — a problem often referred to as “rolling over” in baseball parlance.
“A lot of my focus, especially today, was not hitting a single ball to the right side of the cage,” Livingston said, describing his preparation. “So kind of just focusing in on what I need to focus on, driving the ball more left-center, left-center, left-center. And then, when I do pull the ball, not on the ground, it’s in the air like it was today. That’s what I’m looking for.”
MORE: Texas baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle reaches 1,000 wins. Here’s what it took to get there
If Livingston has emerged from his slump, it makes the Texas lineup much stronger in Williams’ absence. Williams had been hitting .304 with five runs scored in eight games so far this season.
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“Hopefully that’s a really good sign for us moving forward,” Schlossnagle said.
The football consequences for Williams are less clear — and depend on the severity of the injury.
A former five-star recruit, Williams suffered through an injury-mired freshman season in which he played 71 snaps on defense and 84 snaps on special teams.
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The Longhorns lost All-American safety Michael Taaffe to graduation, meaning there’s playing time up for grabs in 2026. But several players will be vying for it. Derek Williams Jr. is back for another season, despite previously entering the transfer portal. Xavier Filsaime and Jordon Johnson-Rubell both played more than Williams at the position in 2025, too.