Texas’ secondary didn’t get a complete overhaul this offseason, but one of the more interesting tweaks in fall camp came with Kobe Black.
The Longhorns brought in two defensive backs through the portal - former Rutgers cornerback Bo Mascoe and former Brown cornerback Nick Hudson - and also added true freshmen Samari Matthews and Hayward Howard. Even with those arrivals, Steve Sarkisian’s approach suggests plenty of confidence in the group already in place, especially with new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp now working with the unit.
One of the bigger adjustments has been Black’s move from cornerback to safety. Sarkisian addressed the change after Texas opened fall camp on Wednesday, and he sounded encouraged by what he’s seen so far.
"Kobe's been a nice addition for us there because he gives us position flexibility," Sarkisian said. "His versatility to obviously play man coverage, be a corner.
I think he's a very smart player. He's savvy.
He's got good instincts, and so you know, so far so good with that move there."
Black is entering his third year at Texas after briefly entering the transfer portal earlier this year before deciding to stay in Austin. Now he’s working in a safety group that includes Jelani McDonald, Xavier Filsaime, Derek Williams Jr., Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Jonah Williams.
That room has a chance to lean on continuity, with several of those players going into their third season together as teammates. It’s the kind of chemistry other programs usually spend an entire offseason trying to build.
Black already delivered one memorable moment for Texas fans last season. In the regular-season finale against Texas A&M, he came down with the game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter, helping the Longhorns beat the Aggies 27-17 and hand them their first loss.
It was the first interception of his career. Texas opens the 2026 season at home against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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