Behavioral issues among student-athletes are not uncommon. But, it seems that the Texas Longhorns have had problems with the young men on their football team every week.
Texas dismissed junior offensive tackle Kennedy Estelle on Tuesday for violating team rules, ESPN reported. He is the ninth player kicked off the team by coach Charlie Strong this season.
Estelle had started at left tackle in the Longhorns' season-opener, a win against North Texas, but was suspended on Sept. 3 for a minimum of three games, along with fellow starting tackle Desmond Harrison for an undisclosed violation of rules.
Estelle took over the right tackle position last season following an injury to starter Josh Cochran. Estelle, 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, started nine games and appeared in 16 during his career at Texas. However, off-field issues have been a problem throughout his time with the Longhorns. Estelle was suspended last season for the Alamo Bowl due to academic ineligibility.
On Monday, Strong had said that Estelle, Harrison and receiver/running back Daje Johnson remained suspended for the Longhorns' game at Kansas on Saturday. Johnson has since returned to practice, while Harrison could join him this week.
Strong had previously indicated that Estelle and Harrison were on thin ice.
"They're not going to break another [team rule]," Strong said Sept. 8. "They won't be here if they break another one."
Since March, Strong has dismissed nine players from the Longhorns' football team. Estelle joins former starters Kendall Sanders and Joe Bergeron, along with backups Leroy Scott, Chet Moss, Montrel Meander, Jalen Overstreet, Chevoski Collins and Deoundrei Davis.
Texas is currently 1-2 this season.