Longhorns lose Hills, Cobbs to injury

The Texas Longhorns fell to TCU on Thanksgiving and in the process lost tailback Jeremy Hills and linebacker Demarco Cobbs for the season due to injury. 

Hills sustained a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula on a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of a 20-13 defeat. The injury will not require surgery, Texas head athletic trainer for football Kenny Boyd said on Saturday. Hills, a senior, rushed for 33 yards on seven carries this year and had 16 receptions for 180 yards. He appeared in 41 games in his UT career. 

Cobbs injured his right knee and left the game with 11:08 remaining in the second quarter. Boyd said the medical staff will evaluate the injury further next week, but the junior will not return to action this season. Cobbs appeared in 11 games this year and had 35 tackles (14 solo).

Cobbs is the second linebacker to be ruled out for the season in less than a week. On Monday, UT announced that Jordan Hicks would not return this season due to a hip injury. Hicks played in just three games and had 23 tackles (12 solo) and three tackles for loss.

Texas also lost defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat to injury earlier this year. Jeffcoat ruptured his right pectoral muscle against Oklahoma on Oct. 6. The junior underwent successful surgery on Oct. 19. Jeffcoat is second on the team in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (11), despite appearing in only six games. 

The Longhorns (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) finish the regular season at Kansas State on Dec. 1. 

By Austin Laymance/Special to the Star-Telegram