Texas safety Derek Williams will miss the first half of the Sugar Bowl versus Washington as part of our 27 Days to the Sugar Bowl Countdown. A source close to the issue tells Horns247.com that Texas’ appeal of Williams’ targeting dismissal from the second half of the Big 12 title game was refused.
Texas’s Austin According to a source close to the matter, Horns247.com, Texas’ appeal of freshman safety Derek Williams’ second-half targeting ejection from the Big 12 title game was refused. As a result, Williams will be forced to miss the first half of the Longhorns’ Sugar Bowl matchup against Washington.
The insider stated, “Yes, we did appeal it, but regrettably, it stands as called.” “[Against Washington], he [Williams] will have to sit the first half.”
Greg Burks, the director of officiating for the Big 12, verified to Horns247.com that Williams will have to sit out the team’s next Sugar Bowl game in order to serve his sentence.
Williams’ targeting call makes things more difficult for Texas defensively going into the Sugar Bowl on January 1 at 7:45 p.m. CT, especially because Jalen Catalon has already accessed the transfer portal.
After missing four games due to injury and playing little when he returned, Catalon decided to sign with the portal as a graduate transfer, people familiar with the case informed Horns247.com.
After taking eight snaps in this season’s Game 6 against Oklahoma, Catalon was injured.
Catalon had played 117 plays at safety prior to the OU game, which was fourth most behind Jerrin Thompson (172), Kitan Crawford (132), and Derek Williams (122).
Michael Taaffe took Catalon’s spot in the safety rotation after the player’s injury against Iowa State in Game 11; Catalon saw only six snaps in the game.
Jerrin Thompson has played the most snaps at safety (516) going into Texas’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Washington (13-0) in the Sugar Bowl. Taaffe (391), Williams (373), Kitan Crawford (292), and Catalon (142) are the next most snaps at safety.
In the Big 12 championship game, Catalon played just 11 plays against Texas Tech and none against Oklahoma State.
Team sources claim that safeties coach Blake Gideon was hesitant to disturb the Thompson, Taaffe, Williams, and Crawford rotation that had grown during Catalon’s injury absence.
Pro Football Focus rates Thompson as the team’s best safety overall (75.4), ahead of Taaffe (64.4), Williams (68.2), Catalon (61.0), and Crawford (58.5). (An above-average PFF grade is defined as one that is 70.0 or greater.)
It goes without saying that Texas will rely on Thompson, Taaffe, and Crawford in the first half of the Sugar Bowl without Williams.
