Texas spent the offseason trying to patch the holes that showed up in a 9-3 regular season, and Steve Sarkisian did plenty to help the cause. Fall camp is close, and the Longhorns will soon find out how much better this roster really got.
The biggest changes came on offense, where Texas clearly aimed to add more juice. The running back room got a fresh look with the arrivals of Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from NC State. Both bring experience, and both should give the Longhorns more burst and more options when the playbook opens up.
Wide receiver was another spot where Texas added real talent. Cam Coleman, the highest-rated wide receiver in the portal, joined the mix along with Sterling Berkhalter from Wake Forest. With Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V already in place, Texas has the makings of one of the best receiving cores in the country.
The portal work wasn’t limited to the skill spots. Texas also strengthened the defense with defensive tackle Ian Geffrard, linebacker Rasheem Biles, and cornerback Bo Mascoe.
Those additions give Will Muschamp more pieces to work with, and the overall depth on this roster looks strong. Sarkisian put together a group that can win in a lot of different ways.
Still, there is one area that could keep Texas from feeling complete: the secondary. Safety Jelani McDonald is back and matters a lot, but the spot next to him remains unsettled.
Mascoe, who comes over from Rutgers after recording one interception last year, could end up being the key piece there. Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips are also in the mix, so the Longhorns should be solid enough, even if that group doesn’t look like a strength right now.
Texas did get one more boost when John Meredith III reclassified and will join the team this fall. He was the highest-rated cornerback in the 2027 class, though he isn’t expected to make an immediate impact.
Muschamp has the kind of defensive front that can help cover for issues on the back end, too. With that group up front and a player like Colin Simmons able to take some pressure off the secondary, Texas has ways to manage any soft spots.
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