Burnt Orange Nation

Two more Longhorn football players will miss spring practice following surgeries, the university announced Thursday. Junior defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat and redshirt freshman Greg Daniels won't be healthy enough to practice after having shoulder issues repaired, joining sophomore defensive back Adrian Phillips, who had revealed his own shoulder surgery on Twitter. All three should be recovered in time for summer workouts.

The most remarkable story is that of Jeffcoat, who sustained a torn pectoral muscle against Texas A&M, but was able to play a significant role in the Holiday Bowl victory over Cal, recording two sacks and three tackles for loss. Dude is tough. And while it would certainly benefit his development to practice in the spring, players like Reggie Wilson and Cedric Reed probably need the reps more than does the more experienced Jeffcoat.

As for Daniels, the move will at least temporarily shelve any plans to give the high school defensive end a look at tight end. While Daniels isn't quite on the edge of becoming a strong attrition candidate, it was to be an important spring for him, especially considering that both redshirt sophomore Chris Whaley and true freshman Desmond Jackson had passed him on the depth chart, never a good sign for future hopes of contributions.

On the positive side, all three are expected to recover in time for summer workouts.

A fourth Longhorn also underwent surgery -- junior Luke Poehlmann, who had his knee scoped, but should be able to participate in spring practice, where he may well continue to work as a jumbo tight end.