Brandon Moore won't play for Texas

Updated: September 28, 2012, 8:59 PM ET

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas will be without defensive tackle Brandon Moore, linebacker Jordan Hicks and kicker Anthony Fera for Saturday night's Oklahoma State game, the school said in a release Friday evening.

While not having Hicks and Fera had been a possibility throughout the week, the loss of Moore is a surprise and could affect the play on the interior defensive line. The junior defensive tackle has been an essential part of the four-man rotation up front.

Moore was diagnosed with a virus and did not travel with the team.

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The Longhorns now will go with Ashton Dorsey, Desmond Jackson and Chris Whaley. Freshman Malcom Brown also could be added to the mix.

The Longhorns were counting on their depth to help counteract the speed and number of plays run by the Cowboys. Oklahoma State rarely huddles and usually has 80-plus offensive plays (they had 92 against Arizona this year).

Hicks, the team's leading tackler, suffered a hip injury against Ole Miss. Texas will rotate through several different linebackers to try and fill his shoes. The most likely choice to get the start is Kendall Thompson. Thompson replaced Hicks against Ole Miss.

Texas also could go with a nickel package at times and put safety Kenny Vaccaro close to the line. That would leave Adrian Phillips to direct traffic on the back end. Mykkele Thompson would come in as the extra defensive back.

As for kicker, Texas will have to go with freshman Nick Jordan. Jordan is making just 43 percent of his kicks, the worst percentage in the Big 12. Nick Rose is also on the travel squad and could be an option if Jordan struggles.