Texas has built a wide receiver room that should make life easier for Arch Manning and harder for everyone trying to stop him. Steve Sarkisian loaded the roster with big-play options on the perimeter, and the reason is clear: he targeted slot receivers who can also move outside, giving the Longhorns more ways to create mismatches all over the field.
That depth comes with a tradeoff. Individual numbers may get squeezed because there are so many mouths to feed.
But for Sarkisian and Manning, that is exactly the kind of problem they want. Manning’s production should not dip from last season, when he still posted top-30 passing numbers in most major categories.
The expectation is that those numbers rise, and the case for that is simple: Texas has too much talent at receiver for defenses to consistently cover every threat.
Cam Coleman is the name driving much of the buzz. He profiles as the clear WR1 and has generated enough hype to help push Texas into the top four in the coaches poll.
Texas and Notre Dame were the only teams in the top 10 that did not reach the CFP last year, and Coleman is the kind of newcomer who can sway voters. He has even worked his way into conversations as one of the top two receivers in the country alongside Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith.
Sterling Berkhalter adds another layer. The Wake Forest transfer went 6/9 on contested catches last season and is 16/28 overall in a career that has stretched beyond five years and included stops at Cincinnati and North Carolina A&T.
The flanker spot is crowded too. Ryan Wingo, who was Manning’s WR1 last year, is there, along with sophomore Kaliq Lockett and Jermaine Bishop Jr. Emmett Mosley V can also fill in at WR-Z, though he is expected to spend most of his time in the slot.
Wingo should lead the group in targets, but Lockett showed in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win against Michigan that he can produce explosive plays on his own. Bishop may be too dangerous to keep off the field, which could push him into more snaps on the outside.
Texas also made sure the passing game would be dangerous in the short and intermediate areas by adding two transfers in the backfield who can turn screens, swing passes and wheel routes into problems for a defense. NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers and Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown give Sarkisian even more answers.
For opposing defenses, and especially the linebackers wearing the green dot helmet, that means a long fall. Sarkisian’s pre-snap movement and the number of weapons Texas can deploy at every level should make coverage a serious challenge in 2026.
In Other News...
Sarkisian May Have 2 Freshmen He Can't Keep Off Texas' Offense
Steve Sarkisian spent the offseason making sure Texas had more veteran help where it needed it, bringing in running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown along with offensive linemen Melvin Siani and Laurence Seymore. The idea was straightforward enough: add proven depth, give the Longhorns more immediate options, and make sure the roster had players who could help right away once the season got rolling.
Even with those additions, a couple of freshmen have kept themselves in the conversation during fall camp. Derrek Cooper has caught the staff's attention and could be in line for early work in the backfield, while Jermaine Bishop Jr. looks like the rookie most likely to find a path onto the field through offense or special teams. Sarkisian has said the transfers were brought in to contribute immediately, but Texas may still have young players forcing their way into the mix before long. [Read more 🡒]
Colin Simmons Is Becoming The Face Of Texas Defensive Hopes
Colin Simmons has spent just two seasons turning hype into something sturdier for Texas, piling up production that matches the elite expectations that followed him to Austin. The edge rusher has already posted 21 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss and seven takeaways, numbers that help explain why he enters the season as a pre-season first-team All-American and a Bronko Nagurski Award watchlist name.
The broader national attention has caught up to him too, with The Athletic placing him No. 10 on its College football Freaks List because of his explosiveness and athleticism. For Texas, the appeal is obvious: Simmons is no longer just a high-end recruit with a lot of upside, but one of the players around whom real defensive hopes can be built. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Got Extra Fuel For Its Ohio State Showdown
Rasheem Biles has already found a place in Texas defense, and now the linebacker is headed toward a second-week matchup with a bit more personal edge than most. The Ohio State native came to Austin after three productive seasons at Pitt, where he developed into a steady, versatile defender before transferring to the Longhorns. Steve Sarkisian has praised Biles for the way he can move around the defense and make an impact in different roles, which is exactly why Texas expects him to be part of the plan when the Longhorns line up against the Buckeyes.
The backdrop makes the showdown a little more interesting, because Biles has never hidden how he feels about the school just up the road. He grew up near Ohio State, but the Buckeyes passed on recruiting him out of high school, and that slight still lingers as Texas prepares for one of its biggest early-season tests. For a Longhorns defense looking for any extra edge, Biles brings both experience and a little added motivation into a game that already had plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]