AUSTIN, Texas — On a one-yard gain early in the second quarter of the 59-7 win by the No. 5 Texas Longhorns over the Texas State Bobcats, freshman running back Derrek Cooper suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the game, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Cooper headed into the locker room after the injury and was spotted on the sideline wearing a boot in the second half.
As Texas prepares to host No. 1 Ohio State next weekend in Austin, the medical staff will monitor Cooper and his improvement to determine a timetable for his return.
The 6’1, 212-pounder finished with two carries for six yards as the third-team running back — Cooper beat out three older players to earn that spot on the depth chart and is expected to play a significant role special teams and offense backing up senior Hollywood Smothers and fifth-year Raleek Brown.
Cooper signed with Texas out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna as a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 109 player nationally and the No. 7 running back in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
“His spirit’s high because he knows he’s still got us,” Brown said after the game. “He looks up to us and we just lean in the right direction.”