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AUSTIN – The pads are on and the first week of preseason practice is nearing an end. Now comes another test.

Tom Herman and Texas will take the field for their first preseason scrimmage on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after Friday’s practice, Herman explained the No. 1 defense will line up against the No. 1 offense. But don’t expect anything extravagant, he just wants to see Texas "go play football.”



“For us the scrimmage setting is good for it allows coaches to get off the field,” Herman said. “It allows us to go through game-like situations, game-like execution, game-like procedures without a set drill, ‘hey, this is third-and-10, third-and-eight, third-and-six,’ whatever the case may be, inside drill.



“It’s just a 11-on-11, go play football, play it as its spotted. But it doesn't carry anymore weight than an individual drill on a Monday practice.”



Herman said the team will go about 60 to 70 plays, lasting a few hours as the No. 1 offense plays against the No. 1 defense and the No. 2 offense play the No. 2 defense.



But Herman is serious when he says it won’t be anything more than “just football.” He doesn’t expect to run many special situations yet as Texas continues to develop and learn the systems implemented by the new staff.



“You know, we don’t have our two-minute drill in yet,” Herman said. “We have a very barebones red zone, goal line package. It will be a lot of just football down on the minus 25 and go play football.”



Running back Kirk Johnson is the only Longhorn noted to be out for the scrimmage this weekend as he recovers from a minor hamstring injury. Receiver Reggie Hemphill-Mapps, who left practice early on Thursday, will be evaluated before he takes the field to see if he’s able to participate. He worked out during Friday’s session, however, he was held out of contact.

