Steve Sarkisian walked into the first day of Texas fall camp with a roster problem most coaches would happily take: too many good options.
After practice opened this week, the Longhorns head coach made it clear he’s not looking at his depth chart with concern. He’s looking at a team that can survive the grind of a brutal 2026 schedule because there are bodies everywhere and competition at nearly every spot.
"I think this team is really deep, and we're going to need a lot of these bodies. You guys know what our schedule looks like, and you're playing playing nine conference games now with Ohio State (and) Texas State and UTSA both probably going to be bowl teams this fall, so we've got a we've got a real challenging schedule," Sarkisian said after the opening of fall camp.
That depth is especially obvious at running back, where Texas added Hollywood Smothers from NC State and Raleek Brown from Arizona State through the portal. Even with those arrivals, Sarkisian singled out Michael Terry III as one of the early standouts in camp, along with Smothers.
For Sarkisian, the backfield isn’t just about carrying the ball. He’s looking for pass-catching ability and versatility, and Terry’s emergence is an eye-catching development given his size at six-foot-three and 230 pounds. If he can bring that kind of athletic presence to the room, Texas could have a very different look behind Arch Manning this fall.
And the Longhorns’ offense already has plenty of weapons on the perimeter. Beyond Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo outside and Emmett Mosley IV in the slot, Jermaine Bishop Jr. is also making noise, with Sarkisian viewing him as a player who, like Kaliq Lockett, can handle a variety of routes.
Bishop has long been a name tied to big-time production in Texas, and his quick rise in camp only adds to the sense that this receiver group is loaded. Put it all together, and Texas looks built to keep rolling bodies onto the field without losing much.
That’s the challenge for anyone on the Longhorns’ 2026 schedule: keep up with a roster that expects to stay fresh deep into games.
In Other News...
Texas Secondary Draws Early Camp Concern After Two Young DBs Go Missing
Texas has only just gotten through two fall camp practices, but the secondary already has a small bit of intrigue attached to it. During a recent viewing window, two freshmen defensive backs were nowhere to be seen, adding a layer of early camp concern to a group that will be watched closely as the regular season approaches.
The missing players were cornerback Samari Matthews and safety Yaheim Riley, though coach Steve Sarkisian did not report any injuries. It remains unclear whether either rookie worked elsewhere during practice or simply stayed out of the portion open to reporters, but any absence from a position group this young will be noted while camp is still in its opening stages. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Niblett's Texas Speed Ranking Included One Name Fans Didn't Expect
Ryan Nibletts eye for speed around Texas already comes with some credibility, since he has plenty of it himself from both the stopwatch and what shows up on Saturdays. So when the running back/wide receiver was asked to identify the fastest players on the roster, his answer naturally drew attention, especially with freshman wide receiver Kohen Brown and junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo in the mix. Brown has been one of the more talked-about newcomers after an impressive offseason physically, and he reportedly reached 23.1 miles per hour in conditioning, while Wingos reputation has been built on verified speed dating back to high school and continuing into college.
Warren Roberson also surfaced in the discussion, which fits with how Texas uses him on special teams and why his burst matters beyond just the depth chart. For a roster that values pace at every level, Nibletts list offers a useful snapshot of where the speed is concentrated, and it also hints at how much the Longhorns can lean on that athleticism when games tighten up. The only real suspense now is how that speed ranking translates once the pads come on and the deeper pecking order starts to show. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Has One Fall Camp Problem Talent Alone Wont Solve
Fall camp has a way of exposing whether a roster built on potential is actually ready to function like a team, and Texas is walking into that test with a handful of issues Steve Sarkisian has to sort through before the 2026 season. Freshmen will need to get up to speed quickly, several jobs are still open, and the newcomers brought in through the portal have to mesh with returning pieces fast enough to make the whole thing work. Add in the need for stronger leadership and cleaner communication up front, and the Longhorns are looking at a camp where talent is only the starting point.
The offensive line figures to be one of the biggest pressure points, because the group cannot afford confusion when it comes to assignments and calls. Health is part of that equation, too, after Manning, Trevor Goosby and Jonah Williams missed spring work because of injuries, leaving Texas with less continuity than it would prefer heading into August. If the Longhorns are going to turn all that talent into something sturdier, fall camp has to answer questions that paper over on a depth chart but show up quickly on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]