Sports

Charlie Strong Dismisses Offensive Tackle Kennedy Estelle, the Ninth Player the Longhorns Coach Has Kicked Off the Team

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Texas Longhorns head football coach Charlie Strong has made one thing abundantly clear with his team: do not break the rules, or else leave.

According to ESPN, Kennedy Estelle, a junior offensive tackle, is now the ninth player Strong has dismissed from the Longhorns. Estelle started in the season opener against North Texas before being suspended on Sept. 3 for at least three games for a violation of team rules, as was starting tackle Desmond Harrison.

Strong's disciplining has left the Longhorns' depth chart particularly thin at offensive line, but he has made it clear that he will not tolerate rules violations. However, he indicated two weeks ago that Estelle and Harrison were not yet out of chances, though that has obviously changed for the former.

"They're not going to break another [team rule]," Strong said in a news conference Sept. 8. "They won't be here if they break another one."

Texas is playing Kansas Saturday on the road and Strong had already said Estelle, Harrison and running back/wide receiver Daje Johnson would remain suspended for the game. All three were also expected to rejoin the practice field this week, though now it will just be Johnson and Harrison.

Estelle is the third starting player to be dismissed, ESPN reported, joining Kendall Sanders and Joe Bergeron. Since March, Strong has also dismissed backup players Leroy Scott, Chet Moss, Montrel Meander, Jalen Overstreet, Chevoski Collins and Deoundrei Davis.

Burt Orange Nation noted that Harrison was suspended for the opener and then again shortly after being reinstated. As a result, the fan-operated blog was skeptical the Longhorns would even see Harrison play again this season.

Despite an inexperienced offensive line, Texas played UCLA in a close game last Saturday, losing 20-17. However, they are just two weeks removed from a brutal 41-7 beat down from BYU.

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