Some surprising news came out of third-year Texas head coach Tom Herman's early signing day press conference Wednesday afternoon. While delivering an injury and health-status update on several members of the current Texas roster, Herman listed freshman defensive lineman Peter Mpagi among the group of ailing Longhorns battling with various issues.

With this being the first time the head coach made mention of Mpagi's recent health struggles, Herman clarified that the 2019 enrollee has been battling an undisclosed heart issue, which has led to multiple hospitalizations.

In addition to the recovery update on running back Derrian Brown, who suffered a stroke last January, but has since been cleared for physical activity, Herman addressed the status of fellow classmate, Mpagi, who was recently released from the hospital due to an apparent heart issue, which marked his second hospital stay since he enrolled at Texas.

"Peter was released from the hospital either yesterday or the day before. He's going to go back to Houston and recover," the head coach said. "He's on some different medications than the first time he was hospitalized."

The announcement came as a surprise to many folks who listened to the head coach's press conference, as it was the first time Herman had publicly addressed Mpagi's on-going health issue.

UT officials would not disclose further information regarding the defensive lineman's situation, other than confirming Mpagi is being evaluated for a heart issue, but Herman stated his return to the field is the last thing on the staff's mind at this point.

"Long-term, that's so far removed from our thoughts right now being the severity of his heart issue," the head coach said. "We'll see. The plan is for him to be back, at least in classes, in the spring semester."

A member of the Longhorns' 2019 signing class, Mpagi did not see playing time during his true freshman season on the Forty Acres, which makes sense based off the recent news of his on-going health issue.

Rated a 247Sports Composite three-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle, Mpagi made his commitment to Texas only two days after he received an offer from the Longhorns in the summer of 2018. Prior to enrolling at Texas, Herman mentioned how burnt orange "runs through his blood" with both of his father and sister having attended the University of Texas.

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"We saw him on his junior film and weren't quite sure if we were ready to offer him," Herman said during last year's December signing day press conference. "He came to compete in our camps —I think he came to three different camps, which is unheard of, because he wanted an offer from the University of Texas. He earned it. And he turned that into a great senior year."